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Niv6»«rn  op 

CALIFORNIA 

san  oieeo 


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^JL&nAva*, 


EDWARD  DUMGAN  AND  BROTHER 

HAVE  JUST  PUBLISHED  IN  ONE  VOLUME,   12iIO. 

Price  $1  75   Cents, 

HISTORY  OF  THE  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS 

AMONG  THE  INDIAN  TRIBES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 

1529—1854. 

By  JOHN  GILM  >  RY  SHEA, 
Author  of  the  "Discovery  and  Exploration  of  the  Mississippi,"  etc..  etc 


Few  are  aware  of  the  extent  of  the  Catholic  Missions  among  our 
Indian  tribes.  Till  within  a  few  years  they  were  in  fact  unknown, 
but  since  American  historians  have  derived  from  them  their  most 
thrilling  pages,  a  general  interest  has  been  excited  with  regard  to 
all  that  concerns  them. 

Almost  every  State  in  the  Union  has  been  the  scene  of  the  la- 
bors, and  often  of  the  martyrdom,  of  Catholic  missionaries;  but 
while  these  men  are  extolled  by  onr  fellow-countrymen  as  glories 
of  our  race  and  country,  we  Catholics  are  almost  ignorant  of  them. 
Names,  which  should  be  household  words  in  every  family  where 
the  faith  is  preserved,  are  actually  unknown.  Scarcely  a  Catholic 
parent  can  tell  the  children  around  her  the  sufferings  and  labors  of 
the  devoted  priest,  who,  perhaps,  laid  down  his  life  in  their  native 
State,  long  before  the  white  settlers  colonized  it. 

The  present  work  is  the  first  attempt  to  Lupply  the  want.  It  is 
the  first  and  most  romantic,  most  thrilling  volume  in  the  history  of 
the  American  Catholic  Church.  The  author,  known  both  as  a 
historian  and  a  Catholic,  has  had  access  to  records  hitherto  untouch- 
ed, and  from  them  he  has  drawn  up  a  narrative  full  of  interest,  pa- 
thos, and  eloquence.  It  comes  to  us  Catholics  as  a  monument  to 
which  we  may  proudly  appeal,  at  a  moment  when  our  very  nation- 
ality is  denied  ;  as  a  chronicle  to  be  handed  to  our  children,  to  bind 
them  to  the  fait1  for  it  is  a  history  with  all  the  charm  of  a  ro- 
mance and  the  .  cti  m  of  a  work  of  devotion.  None  can  read  it 
without  fee'u  ig  gi  eater  love  for  tii  Church,  more  pride  in  its  glo- 
ries, and  courage  to  maintain  his  i  .ghf  :o  tread  the  soil  of  his  native 
land. 

The  work  is  beautifully  illustrated  with  authentic  portraits  of 
eminent  missionaries,  Jogues  and  Brebeuf,  who  died  amid  tortures ; 
Peyri  of  California ;  De  Sraet  of  Oregon ;  Bapst,  the  recent  sufferer 
for  the  faith ;  and  of  Catharine,  the  Genevieve  of  North  America. 


PUBLISHED   BY  EDWARD    DUNIQAN  &    BROTHER. 


HOME     LIBRARY. 


FASHION; 


OR,  SISKA  VAN  ROOSEMAEL. 

FBOM   THE   FLEMISH   OF   HENDRIK   CONSCIENCE. 

With  35  illustrations,  18mo.     Price,  in  cloth  binding,  37^  cents. 


Fashion  is  a  Domestic  Story,  marked  in  a  high  degree  by  the 
author's  peculiar  humor,  pathos,  power  of  description,  and  moral 
effect. 

The  point  of  the  story  is  directed  against  the  frivolities  of 
modern  fashionable  life,  and  the  folly  of  imitating  them.  The 
interior  of  the  good  old  Flemish  burgher's  family  is  sketched  with 
inimitable  freshness  and  vigor.  The  characters  are  closely  pre- 
served throughout,  and  the  interest  of  the  story  never  flags. — 
"  Siska  Van  Roosemael "  has  loDg  been,  in  Belgium  and  the  Con- 
tinent, the  most  popular  of  the  Tales  of  Conscience,  and  in  its 
English  dress  can  hardly  fail  to  find  equal  favor  with  the  American 
public.  •  . 

The  Dublin  Review  says :  "  It  would  not  be  easy  to  do  justice  to 
the  simple  pathos  of  the  author's  narrative. — Siska's  despairing  gi^ief, 
her  self-reproaches,  her  self-torturings ;  the  father's  tenderness  and 
sorrow,  and  gentle  pity,  for  his  erring  but  repentant  child." 

Brownsoris  Review  says : — "  This  author  is  hardly  inferior  in  his 
genius  to  Canon  Von  Schmid,  and  they  will  prove  hardly  less  favorites 
with  the  public  than  Canon's  exquisite  Tales.  In  an  age  like  ours, 
popular  reading  is  a  necessity  of  life,  and  must  and  will  be  had.  We 
know  nothing  of  the  sort  to  be  preferred  to  the  moral  tales  of  Canon 
Von  Schmid  and  Hendrik  Conscience." 


jL&nAUO" 


PUBLISHED    BY  EDWARD    DTJN1GAN  &  BROTHER. 

HOME   LIBRARY. 
•-•-• 

LITTLE  FRANK; 

OH, 

A  PAINTER'S  PROGRESS;  AND  WHAT  A  MOTHER 
CAN  ENDURE. 

FBOM   THE    FLEMISH   OF    HENDRIK   CONSCIENCE. 

In  1  vol.  18mo.  profusely  illustrated,  price  37£  cts.,  cloth  binding. 


These  charming  Tales  of  Hendrik  Conscience,  which  are  now 
for  the  first  time  presented  to  the  American  public,  are  deservedly 
famous  all  over  Modern  Europe.  His  Tales  of  Domestic  Life  have 
long  enjoyed  the  same  rank  in  Belgian  Literature  which  those  of 
Miss  Edgeworth  have  among  English  readers,  with  this  favorable 
difference,  tbat  his  productions  are  distinctly  christian  in  their 
morality.  Without  being  professedly  religious,  the  general  effect 
of  his  Stories  is  to  produce  a  strong  religious  impression,  and  to 
convey  moral  instruction. 

"  Frank,  or  a  Painter's  Progress,"  the  first  of  his  Tales,  is  also 
one  of  his  most  interesting  and  effective.  The  story  is  simple  and 
touching,  and  abounds  in  lessons  of  the  domestic  virtues,  enforced 
with  a  power  of  description,  humor  and  pathos,  peculiar  to  this 
writer,  and  has  the  merit  of  being  the  actual  history  of  the  early 
struggles  of  one  of  the  first  of  living  Belgian  artists. 

"  What  a  Mother  can  Endure,"  is  a  shorter  story,  bound  up  in 
the  same  volume,  with  a  beautiful  and  striking  moral,  and  passa- 
ges of  social  suffering  and  patience,  so  harassing  in  its  fidelity  of 
the  extremities  to  wliich  honest  poverty  is  too  often  reduced, 
as  to  be  hardly  surpassed  by  any  modern  work  of  fiction. 

The  Literary  Gazette  says :  "  Cordially  do  we  welcome  this 
novelty  in  literature  and  art.  It  sheds  alight  at  once  new,  distinct 
and  pleasant,  upon  us.  It  has  sprung  up  a  sort  of  wonderful 
stranger  from  a  terra  incognita.  The  last  tale,  'What  a  Mother 
can  Endure,'  will  draw  a  tear  from  many  an  eye.  It  is  one  of  the 
sweetest  and  most  truly  excellent  lessons  we  ever  read,  and  we 
promise  our  readers  that  they  will  reward  us  for  our  recommenda- 
tion both  by  tears  and  smiles  of  that  delicious  kind  which  soften 
the  heart  and  elevate  the  soul." 


PUBLISHED  BY  EDWARD  DUNIGAN '&  BROTHER. 


HOME  LIBRARY. 


THOENBEEEY    ABBEY. 

A  TALE  OF  THE  TIMES. 
In  one  volume,  18mo.     Cloth,  gilt  lack,  37£  cts. 


"  Thornberry  Abbey  "  is  addressed  especially  to  the  most 
striking  phase  of  modern  religious  controversy.  High  Church 
and  Low,  Puseyites  and  Evangelicals,  and  all  the  workings 
and  results  of  the  present  remarkable  movement,  which  di- 
vides and  must  destroy  Anglican  Protestantism,  supply  a 
subject  of  the  utmost  interest.  The  process  by  which  the 
principal  characters  are  conducted,  some  to  the  truth,  others 
confirmed  in  error,  is  delineated  with  a  force  of  style  scarcely 
surpassed  in  any  other  similar  work. 


"  It  is  one  of  the  best  little  works,  treating  important  matters  in  a  popular  manner, 
we  have  recontly  met.  It  is  written  with  fair  artistic  6kill,  the  characters  are  well 
sustained,  and  the  controversy  is  managed  with  adroitness,  delicacy,  and  success."— 
Brmonson's  Quarterly  Review. 

"The  tale  is  well  conceived,  and  written  with  those  graces  of  style  which  musk 
certainly  be  interesting  to  the  reader — but  what  is  far  moro  valuable,  is  full  of  instruc- 
tion."— Catholic  Magazine. 

"  A  beautifully  printed  little  volume,  containing  a  tale  written  with  considerable 
force  and  power  of  description,  and  intending  to  set  off  the  claims  of  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic Church  to  tho  pure  succession,  in  opposition  to  those  of  the  Church  of  England. 
The  three  parties,  Romanist,  Puseyite,  and  Low  Church  or  Evangelical,  are  each  re- 
presented, and  the  object  seems  to  be  to  show  that  tho  Puseyites  have  gone  so  far  as  to 
be  enemies  with  themselves,  if  they  do  not  go  the  whole  figure." — American  Review, 
October,  1846 

The  Dotroit  Vindicator  says :  "  It  is  a  mortal  thrust  at  Anglicanism,  under  the 
guise  of  an  entertaining  and  spirited  story." 


PUBLISHED  BY  EDWARD  DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER. 


HOME  LIBRARY. 


THE    SHIPWRECK. 

OR,  THE  DESERT  ISLAND. 
In  neat  cloth  binding,  gilt  lacTc.     Price,  37£  cents. 


The  above  is  one  of  the  best  books  of  the  kind  yet  issued 
from  the  American  press.  It  is  not  only  delightful  and  agree- 
able as  a  story,  but  it  also  conveys  to  the  mind  of  the  reader 
an  instructive  moral,  and  in  an  impressive  way,  which  renders 
it  especially  suitable  for  the  young. 


The  Detroit  Vindicator  says:  "A  beautiful  little  story,  to  illustrate  the  baleful 
effects  of  an  ungoverncd  temper." 

The  Metropolitan  says  :  "The  Shipwreck  ;  or,  the  Desert  Island.  18mo.~ We 
suppose  that  this  little  book  is  a  translation  from  the  French.  By  whom  written  in  the 
original,  and  by  whom  translated,  does  not  appear.  Stories  of  shipwreck,  and  the  lives 
of  men  thrown  on  desert  islands,  are  always  interesting.  Robinson  Crusoe  and  a  host  of 
imitators  are  a  perpetual  proof  of  it  But  here  the  interest  is  made  to  illustrate  a  moral 
—the  evil  and  folly  of  anger,  pride,  and  resentment,  especially  between  different  ranks 
of  society.  The  heroes  of  this  tale  are  a  young  Count  d'Estaing,  son  of  the  Marquis 
d'Estaing,  and  a  young  peasant,  named  Merville.  We  will  not,  however,  recount  the  story, 
but  content  ourselves  with  saying,  that  it  is  very  well  told,  and  that  the  moral  is  ex- 
cellent It  is  not  destitute  of  points  of  improbability,  for  few  French  stories  of  this 
sort  are;  but  they  do  not  touch' either  the  moral  or  the  interest  The  translation  ap- 
pears to  be  correct:  it  is  certainly  simple  and  elegant  We  notice,  however,  the 
occasional  use  of  '  will'  for  'shall,'  and  once  'would'  for  'should;'  but  this  may  be 
a  mistake  of  the  compositor.  It  is  one  of  those  books,  in  short,  which  merit  from 
Catholics  the  warmest  encouragement,  and  will  be  sure  to  obtain  it" 

The  Catholic  Instructor  says:  "To  all  who,  by  their  habits,  are  wont  to  indulge 
In  feelings  of  coldness,  aversion,  and  Ill-temper  towards  those  with  whom  the  business 
of  life  brings  them  into  frequent  contact  we  especially  recommend  this  book. 

"  Parents  would  do  well  to  read  it  and  have  It  attentively  perused  by  their  children, 
in  whom  pride  and  obstinacy  of  heart  is  too  often  suffered  to  grow  to  such  a  height  as 
to  obtain  a  complete  jnastery  over  the  will" 


y* 


PUBLISHED  BY  EDWARD  DUMGAN  &  BROTHER. 


HOME    LIBRARY 


OEAMAIKA. 


jr 


AN    INDIAN    STORY. 
In  neat  cloth  "binding,  gilt  back.    Price,  50    cents. 


A  charming  little  tale  from  the  French,  which  nevertheless 
lays  the  scene  in  our  own  land,  and  depicts  the  Indian  with  a 
much  better  appreciation  of  his  real  character  than  many  a  more 
pretentious  work.  The  beauty  of  Catholicity,  its  power  in 
supporting  us  in  the  hour  of  adversity,  its  magic  influence  in 
transforming  the  ruthless  savage  into  a  useful  and  happy  mem- 
ber of  society,  are  all  beautifully  portrayed. 


The  Catholic  Telegraph  says : 

"  A  beautiful  French  story.    It  will  be  found  amusing  and  instructive." 
The  Catholic  Mirror  says : 

«  We  have  read  enough  of  this  charming  little  volume  to  induce  us  to  give  it  a  warm 
introduction  to  our  readers.    The  narrative  is  one  of  interest,  the  characters  are  admi- 
rably sustained,  and  what  is  still  better,  the  tone  is  religious.    Let  such  works  find  their 
way  into  every  Catholic  family,  and  our  children  will  grow  up  better  Catholics." 
A  Western  paper  says  : 

"A  thrilling  tale  of  incident  and  truth,  a  very  pictureof  Indian  life." 


THE 


PROPHET  OF  THE  RUINED  ABBEY, 


OR 


%  (State*  of  tlje  Jfuture  of  Jrekuto: 


A   NARRATIVE    FOUNDED    ON    THE    ANCIENT 


"PROPHECIES  OF  CULMKILL," 


AND  OX  OTHER   PREDICTIONS  AND   POPULAR 
TRADITIONS  AMONG  THE  IRISH. 


\ 


BY 

THE  AUTHOR  OF  "THE  CROSS  AND  THE  SHAMROCK." 


"Let  Erin  remember  the  days  of  old, 
Ere  her  faithless  sons  betrayed  her. 
When  Malachi  wore  the  collar  of  gold, 
Which  he  won  from  her  iiroud  invader." 


NEW  YORK: 

EDWARD  DUNIGAN  AND  BROTHER,  151  FULTON  STREET. 

1855. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress  in  the  yea»lS54,  by 

JAMES  B.  KIRKEE, 

In  the  Clerk's  Ofliec  of  tho  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the  Southern 

District  of  New  York. 


geHtaii0n. 


TO 


HIS  IMPERIAL  MAJESTY,  NAPOLEOX  THE  THIRD, 

WHO   HAS   BEEN   ELEVATED   TO  THE  TnRONE  OP  THE   CAESARS   BY  THE  VOTES   OF  SEVEN 
^MILLIONS   OF  HIS   COUNTRYMEN  ;   WTO   HAS   BEEN   APPLAUDED   BT  THE 
UNANIMOUS   VOICE   OF  ALL   CIVILIZED   NATIONS  AS  THE 

SAVIOUR  OF  FRANCE ; 

AND   WHO   HAS  HAD   ADDRESSED  TO   HIM  ME  PETITIONS   AND  ANXIOUS   ENTREATIES  OP 
TEN    MILLIONS   OF  IRISHMEN   IN   BOTH   HEMISPHERES,   AS 

THE    EXPECTED    CONQUEROR    OF    ENGLAND, 


TRUE  LIBERATOR  OF  IRELAND, 

THE     FOLLOWING     PAGES     ARE     RESPECTFULLY     INSCRIBED, 

BY  HIS   OBEDIENT  SERVANT, 


THE  AUTHOR. 


New  York,  November  tOth,  1854. 


X 


PREFACE. 


The  object  of  the  following  story  is,  in  the  first 
place,  to  save  from  oblivion  and  decay  the  legends 
and  popular  traditions  on  which  it  is  principally 
founded,  and  which  are  here,  as  the  author  be- 
lieves, for  the  first  time,  committed  to  print. 
Many  an  "  Exile  of  Erin "  will  derive  pleasure 
from  reading,  by  the  stove-side,  during  the  long 
winter  nights,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  family,  a 
Yew,  even,  of  those  tales,  which,  though  in.  the 
awkwardness  of  a  foreign  tongue,  and  but  indif- 
ferently told  at  that,  he  cannot  but  recognize  as 
some  of  those  which  he  often  listened  to,  at 
home,  in  the  chimney-corner,  by  a  fire  of  blazing 
turf! 


PREFACE. 


The  second,  but  not  secondary  aim  of  the 
author  of  this  work  is,  to  keep  alive  and  kindle  in 
the  bosoms  of  the  Irish  Catholic  people  of  this 
republic  genuine  sentiments  of  patriotism  and 
religion,  both  of  which  are  threatened  with  dan- 
ger, on  the  one  hand,  from  the  treachery  of  a 
few  bad  Irishmen  themselves,  and  on  the  other, 
from  the  arrogant  assurance  of  a  few  fickle-minded 
spirits,  who  would  persuade  the  Irish  race  of  this 
great  continent,  to  forget  their  country,  their 
origin,  their  descent,  their  history,  their  tradi- 
tions and  bygone  glories,  which  are  nicknamed 
"Irishism,"  and  as  the  inevitable  consequence, 
though  this  may  not  be  intended,  to  forget  their 
Eeligion !  Has  it  come  to  this,  that  a  few  indi- 
viduals, not  numerous  nor  respectable  enough  to 
be  accounted  a  school  of  philosophy,  have  had 
the  infatuation,  if  not  audacity,  to  call  on  us,  the 
best  Catholics  in  America,  or  the  world,  to  obli- 
terate all  the  venerable  monuments  of  the  pedi- 
gree of  saints  and  kings  from  which  we  have 
sprung,  and  to   amalgamate  with   the  parvenu 


PREFACE. 


nondescript  breeds  of  the  New  World  ?  Forget 
the  land  of  our  birth  and  our  "  Irishism,"  indeed ! 
No,  but,  like  the  Jews,  sitting  by  the  banks  of 
the  Hudson,  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  the  Ohio,  and 
all  the  other  rivers  from  Oregon  to  Maine,  and 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Hudson's  Bay,  let  the 
Irish  sing  the  songs  of  their  Sion,  and  hand  down 
to  their  latest  posterity  the  reminiscences  of  Holy 
Ireland !  Attachment  to  the  land  of  our  nativity, 
so  far  from  proving  injurious  to  our  religion  or 
the  progress  of  our  faith,  as  is  asserted,  will  have 
the  contrary  effect ;  the  experience  of  the  Clergy 
in  the  Union  going  to  show,  that  the  man  who 
denies  his  country,  or  is  ashamed  of  its  language, 
habits  and  traditions,  is  the  first  also  to  deny  his 
God  and  his  religion;  while  the  most  unfailing, 
if  not  the  strongest  tie  that  binds  the  heart  of 
the  Irish  Celt  to  the  Cross  of  Calvary,  is  made  out 
of  the  green  stems  and  leaves  of  "  Erin's  Immortal 
Shamrock ! " 

Nothing  so  much  contributed  to  keep  alive  the 
faith,  in  the  hearts  of  the  exile  people  of  God,  as 


gk 


8  PREFACE. 

their  frequent  recollection  of  "  Fatherland,"  and  the 
chanting  of  its  sacred  melodies ;  and  did  not  the 
Almighty  himself  wish  to  be  called  the  God  of 
Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  in  order  that  the 
two  sacred  fires  of  patriotism  and  religion  should 
blend  and  burn  together  on  the  same  altar  of  the 
heart  ? 

Some  of  these  very  men,  who  affect  to  be 
shocked  at  the  "  Irishism  "  of  the  Catholics,  have, 
if  we  mistake  not,  given  lectures  to  show  how  the 
Irish  Catholics  were  a  missionary  race,  chosen  by 
God  to  be  his  agents  in  the  regeneration  of  the 
modern  world,  and  are  they  Jonas-like  to  shrink 
from  the  Heaven-appointed  mission,  and  exchange 
the  glorious  ignominies  of  the  cross  and  the 
mocked  robe  of  the  missionary,  for  the  flesh-pots 
and  "  rich  meats  "  of  Babylon's  table  ?  If  they 
should,  and  bending  to  the  prejudices  of  a  corrupt, 
godless  people,  they  get  discouraged  at  the  high 
task  proposed  to  them,  an  abyss  of  ignominious 
oblivion  deeper  than  the  ocean,  and  more  noisome 
than  the  whale's  stomach,  will  await  them  and 


PREFACE.  9 

their  descendants  here  and  hereafter.  Are  the 
Irish  Catholics,  then,  a  missionary  people,  whose 
destiny  it  is  to  propagate  the  faith,  and  carry  the 
knowledge  of  the  cross  and  the  science  of  salva- 
tion through  the  length  and  breadth  of  this  vast 
country  ?  If  such  be  their  high  vocation,  they 
ousrht  not  to  blend  with,  but  rather  remain 
separate  from,  the  people  which  they  are  ordained 
to  regenerate  or  reform!  But,  if  they  become 
absorbed  in  the  amalgam  of  races  which  form  the 
population  of  these  United  States,  and  as  a  con- 
sequence adopt  their  prejudices  and  vices,  their 
usefulness  as  missionaries  is  at  an  end,  and  instead 
of  converting  others  they  become  themselves 
perverted. 

This  work  is  published,  lastly,  because  the 
author  would  contribute  his  quota  to  the  growing 
Catholic  literature  of  the  country ;  and  he  feels 
it  to  be  a  work,  not  of  supererogation  but  of 
charity,  to  supply,  as  far  as  in  him  lies,  and  though 
it  were  but  in  a  single  instance,  an  antidote  against 
the  literary  poison,  which,  in  the  shape  of  tales 


A 


10  PREFACE. 

and  stories,  is  daily  thrust  into  the  hands  of  our 
youth  of  both  sexes. 

To  the  critics  the  author  has  only  to  say,  that 
he  trusts  he  has  avoided  in  the  following  story 
the  numerous  faults  in  its  plot  and  machinery 
pointed  out  to  him  in  their  review  of  a  former 
publication  of  his,  for  which  favors  he  has  labored 
under  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  to  them,  and  which 
he  is  prevented  from  personally  acknowledging, 
only  by  his  determination  to  continue  still  anony- 
mous. 


CONTENTS. 


Chap. 

L- 

II.- 

ni.- 

IV.- 

v.- 

VI.- 

VII.- 

VIII.- 

IX.- 

x.- 

XI.- 
XII.- 

XIII.- 

XIV.- 

XV.- 

XVI.- 

XVII.- 

XVIII.- 

XIX.- 

XX.— 


• 


An  Exile's  Return  to  his  Native  Land, 
A  Rural  Scene,  ..... 
Fraternal  Affection,    .... 

The  Escape, , 

"The  Enchanted  "Warrior,"         .        . 
The  Counsels  of  the  Great,    .        .        , 
The  Expedition  against  the  Rebels,   . 

The  Captive, 

The  Fate  of  the  Fugitive,  .        .        . 

TnE  Ambuscade,  .        .  ». 

Dangerous  Curiosity,    .... 

Paudeen  O'Rafferty's  Stort, 

Going  from  the  Smoke  into  The  Fire, 

A  Sample  of  English  Justice, 

A  Wild  Scene  of  Nature,    . 

■"  TnE   LAVERAon   Lynohagh  ; "    or,  Long-haired 

Prince, 

The  Hermit's  Novitiate, 

The  Rapparees, 

■The  Captain  renounces  the  Life  of  a  Rappa- 

eee,  and  returns  to  France,     .        .        .        . 
Mao  an  'uller,  or,  the  Eagle's  Son, 


Page 

13 

23 

41 

55 

G8 

77 

90 

103 

114 

123 

134 

142 

151 

161 

171 

180 
191 
190 

212 
221 


12  CONTENTS. 

Chap.  Page 

XXL— A  Child  of  Nature's  Sports  and  Pastimes,     .    231 

XXII. — The  Halted  Abbey, 238 

XXIII.— The  Disclosure, 248 

XXIV. — TnE  Departure  of  Brefni,     ....         254 

XXV. — Strange  and  Mysterious  Incidents,  .        .260 

XXVI. — The  Treasure  Seekers,  ....         267 

XXVII  — The  Renewal  of  Old  Acquaintance,        .        .    277 

XXVIII. — The   Hermit   Commemorates   the   Festival   of 

St.  Stephen,  Protomartyr,         .        .        .        288 


■  ; 


THE  PROPHET  OF  THE  RUINED  ABBEY: 

OR, 

Jl  §Mpt  at  t\t  |«to  at  grtlau^ 


CHAPTER   I. 

AN    EXILE'S    RETURN    TO    HIS    NATIVE    LAND. 

On  a  Sunday  morning,  in  the  month  of  May,  in  the 
reign  of  the  third  George,  a  year  or  two  before  the  close 
of  the  war  of  American  Independence,  there  appeared  a 
stranger  among  the  worshippers  at  the  humble  Catholic 
Chapel  of  Dungarvan,  in  the  county  of  Waterford,  Ire- 
land. At  what  hour  he  entered  this  house  of  God  on 
this  delightful  morning,  or  whether  he  took  refuge  within 
its  peaceful  precincts  during  the  gloom  of  the  previous 
night,  cannot  be  now  satisfactorily  ascertained  ;  but, 
certain  it  is,  that  the  first  living  object  which  old  widow 
Power,  who  lived  near  the  chapel  gate,  saw  on  her  going 
into  the  chapel,  was  a  gentleman  prostrate  in  prayer  be- 
fore the  altar — and  during  the  past  forty  years,  the  widuw 


14  THE      PROPHET      OF 

never  once  failed  to  have  her  fifteen  decades  of  the  Rosa- 
ny  for  the  repose  of  her  husband's  soul,  said  long  before 
sunrise  !     The  first  impression  of  the  pious  widow  Nora 
was,  that  it  must  be  one  of  the  clergy  who  was  praying 
before  the  sanctuary  at  such  an  early  hour,  and  with  a 
due  sense  of  the  impropriety  of  distracting  the  fervent 
suppliant,  she  knelt  down  in   the   very  porch  of  the 
church,    and    commenced    counting   her    beads.      But, 
when  the  glimmering  twilight  of  dawn  melted  into  the 
broad,  morning  glory  of  sunrise,  it  was  evident  that  the 
stranger  was  not  a  clergyman.     He  was  dressed  in  a 
suit  of  superfine  blue-black  broadcloth,  consisting  of  a 
long-skirted  dress  or  body  coat,  embroidered  long  vest 
reaching  almost  to  the  thighs,  with  deep  lapelled  pockets, 
and  loose  pantaloons  strapped  beneath  a  well  turned  and 
polished  boot.     A  stock  or  tie  of  dark  green  velvet,  fit- 
ting close  to  the  neck,  with  a  beaver  hat,  somewhat  of 
a  conical  shape  in   the  crown,  and  light  buff  buckskin 
gloves,  completed  his  costume.     His  physical  appearance 
was  of  rather  a  remarkable  mould.     He  was  about  five 
feet  eleven  in  height,  of  flush  and  sanguine  complexion, 
firmly  built,  and  apparently  of  great  strength.     His  face 
was  large  and  full.      His  mustachios  on  the  upper  lip, 
the  only  beard  he  wore,  of  a  sandy  hue,  but  thick  and 
gracefully  shaped.      His  forehead  ample,   rather  than 
high,  and  surmounted  by  a  crop  of  curling,  dark  chest- 
nut hair.     His  eyes  were  not  large,  but  extremely  sharp 


J&Z' 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  15 

and  penetrating  ;  his  nose  rather  prominent  and  slight- 
ly aquiline.  His  mouth  seemed  made  more  for  giving* 
utterance  to  quick,  stern  decrees,  than  for  the  graceful 
charms  of  persuasive  eloquence.  In  a  word,  his  beauti- 
fully arched  eyebrows,  his  oval  chin,  and  all  the  other 
prominent  points  of  his  figure,  were  in  perfect  keeping 
with  the  pleasing  regularity  of  his  features,  and  he  could 
not  fail,  in  any  discerning  society,  to  be  complimented 
on  being  an  "elegant  gentleman,"  or  a  "fine  man," 
according  as  the  phraseology  of  different  classes  may 
term  it. 

The  appearance  of  this  stranger,  remarkable  though 
he  was,  kneeling  at  the  rails  of  the  sanctuary,  did  not 
create  much  curiosity  among  the  worshippers  at  this 
humble  temple  of  God,  taught  as  they  were  to  regard  it 
as  sinful  to  gaze  or  be  distracted  in  the  church,  and 
wholly  intent  in  offering  their  sincere  homage  to  the 
Redeemer,  whose  real  and  personal,  but  mysterious 
presence,  occupied  their  souls  and  rendered  them,  while 
sheltered  under  the  same  roof  with  their  Creator,  insensi- 
ble to  all  created  things  !  In  the  eye  of  true  believers, 
all  men,  emperors,  kings,  princes,  appear  truly  insignifi- 
cant in- the  presence  of  the  Lord  of  Glory  ;  and  whilst 
Jesus  Christ,  the  true  Moses,  is  face  to  face  with  God 
"on  the  Holy  Mount  where  his  infinite  love  has  detained 
him  to  make  intercession  for  his  people,  they  ought  to 
lie  prostrate  at  its  foot  in  contrite  prayer,  to  merit  the 


* 


16  THE      PROPHET      OF 

favor,  or  escape  the  wrath  of  the  offended  Jehovah  ! 
This  was  the  custom  of  Christians  of  the  time  to  which 
our  pages  refer,  and  it  is  the  rule,  and  not  the  exception, 
to  this  day  in  Ireland,  where,  it  must  be  confessed,  many 
innovations  of  modern  churches  have  not  yet  made  much 
progress,  and  where  the  fashionable  custom  of  "  watch- 
ing," instead  of  praying,  fasting  and  sacrifice,  has  not 
yet  gained  the  ascendant  as  with  the  respectable  and  en- 
lightened professors  of  "  modern  "  Christianity,  in  their 
carpeted  and  well-cushioned  meeting-houses. 
.  Although  our  stranger  was  unobserved  or  unheeded 
by  the  humble  occupants  of  the  damp  clay  floor  of  St. 
Declan's  Church,  he  did  not  escape  the  observation  of 
the  two  venerable  clergymen  who  officiated  at  the  three 
services  of  that  Sunday.  Having  partaken  of  the  most 
Holy  Sacrament  at  the  first  Mass,  he  continued  still  un- 
moved in  the  same  place  during  the  second  service,  his 
mind  apparently  absorbed  in  his  devotions.  The  third 
service  at  noon  had  now  commenced  ;  and  at  the  Com- 
munion, when  the  senior  pastor  of  the  church,  a  man  of 
venerable  age  and  saintly  appearance,  begged  of  that 
large  congregation,  in  a  voice  trembling  with  emotion, 
that  they  would  offer  up  their  prayers  for  the  temporal 
and  eternal  welfare  of  his  friend,  Rev.  Dr.  O'Donnell, 
who  was  under  sentence — unjust  sentence — of  death,  in 
a  neighboring  county,  the  strong  frame  of  the  stranger 
was  observed  to  tremble,  the  color  left  his  manly  cheek, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  17 

■ 

and  he  had  to  lean  back  to  the  wall  for  support,     A 
thrill  of  horror,  at   this   announcement,  pervaded    the 
congregation,  for  the  Keverend  victim  of  British  persecu- 
tion was  well  known  to  them  all.     He  had  served  them 
for  a  time  as  curate,  or  vicaire,  and  his  benevolent  acts 
were  familiar  as  household  words  at  every  fireside  in  the 
large  parochial  district  of  Dungarvan.     Loud  sobs  and 
tears  now  burst  from  the  large  assemblage  within  and 
around  the  church.     Even  the  aged  pastor  himself  was 
carried  away  by  the  contagion  of  the  common  grief,  and 
was  obliged  to  go  back  to  the  vestry  to  recover  his  self- 
possession.     Now  would  be  the  time,  thought  the  stran- 
ger, to  raise  this  large  body  of  men  into  action,  and  con- 
duct them  to  the  rescue  of  the  convicted  priest,  or  mar- 
shal them  in  array  against  the  enemy  of  their  country. 
Here  was  a  chance  that,  in  his  plans  for  the  freedom  of 
the  beloved  land  of  his  nativity,  he  often  wished  for. 
The  influence  of  the  officiating  priest,  he  thought,  would 
be  of  no  avail  to  repress  the  manly  passions  that  glowed 
within  the  bosoms   of  that  great   crowd.     The   blood 
rushed  back  to  his  face,  he  instinctively  placed  his  hand 
on  his  hip,  as  if  to  grasp  the  sword  that  usually  rested 
there,  for  he  belonged  to  a  regiment  of  French  Chas- 
seurs ;  when  the  angelic  face  of  Father  O'Healy  now 
appeared  returning  from  the  vestry,  and  the  chant  of  the 
"  Dominus  Vobisctim,"  responded  to  by  the  choir,  fell 
on  his  subdued  ear.     The  piercing  eye  of  the  venerable 


18  THE      PROPHET      OF 

pastor  now  encountered  that  of  this  enthusiastic  young 
man,  who  felt  as  if  his  very  soul  was  read  in  that  glance. 
His  elevated  feelings  were  brought  down  to  the  cool  tem- 
perature of  reason,  passion  was  repressed,  grief  softened, 
and  peace  and  resignation  became  established  paramount 
in  a  breast  in  which  religion  had  not  lost  her  sway, 
though  the  dwelling  of  the  loftiest  patriotic  feelings  ! 

After  the  last  gospel,  the  aged  priest,  putting  off  the 
chasuble,  turned  around  to  the  congregation,  and,  in  a 
voice  of  mingled  authority  and  sweetness,  exhorted  the 
large  multitude  in  and  around  the  chapel  (the  windows 
of  which  were  raised  during  the  service)  to  patience  and 
resignation  under  the  sad  afflictions  which  Heaven  per- 
mitted this  unhappy  land  to  be  visited  with,  for  some 
good  end.  He  gently  chided  them  for  these  manifesta- 
tions of  sorrow  for  any  temporal  affliction  so  unseemly 
in  the  house  of  God.  "  Your  tears  will  do  no  good,  my 
good  people.  Be  calm.  Weep  not  for  a  martyr,  for  it 
will  only  detract  from  his  glory.  But,  pray  that  the 
will  of  God  may  be  done.  He,  and  He  only,  can  send 
a  Deliverer."  He  begged  of  the  people  not  to  expose 
themselves  to  punishment  and  imprisonment,  by  discuss- 
ing the  subject  of  the  approaching  execution  in  meet- 
ings or  assemblages,  whether  in  houses  or  out  of  doors. 
Represented  it  as  nothing  but  madness  to  attempt  any 
thing  like  a  resistance  of  the  law,  however  unjust,  or  to 
think  of  rescuing  his  Reverend  friend  while  he  was  guarded 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  19 

by  several  thousand  British  troops.  At  this  part  of  the 
exhortation,  there  was  an  evident  feeling  of  disapproba- 
tion manifested  among  the  greater  portion  of  the  people, 
especially  those  at  the  windows  of  the  chapel,  who  were 
principally  from  the  neighboring  parishes,  and  who  now 
began  to  exclaim,  "  That  will  never  do."  "  If  Father 
O'Donnell  is  to  be  hanged  like  a  dog,  we  must  be  all 
shot,  or  have  the  life  of  his  murderers."  "  Now  or 
never,"  cried  one.  "  No  more  peace  preaching,"  ex- 
claimed another.  "  Death  to  Orange  tyrants,"  cried  a 
third. 

These  murmurs  becoming  louder  and  more  violent, 
the  parish  priest,  seeing  no  present  chance  of  allaying 
the  excited  feelings  of  the  people,  beckoned  to  the  choir 
to  play  an  afterpiece,  and  putting  on  his  chasuble,  and 
taking  the  chalice  off  the  altar,  he  returned  to  the 
vestry. 

The  large  assemblage  slowly  dispersed,  and,  moving 
off  in  parties  of  from  five  to  fifty,  discussed  various  plans 
and  organizations  for  the  rescue  of  Father  O'Donnell  ; 
but,  fur  want  of  a  leader  their  plans  were  inefficient  and 
impracticable,  mere  unmeaning  speeches  ! 

After  having  finished  his  thanksgiving,  and  after  the 
evacuation  of  the  church  and  churchyard  by  the  people, 
the  Eev.  Dr.  O'Healy  sent  one  of  the  young  lads,  who 
assisted  at  the  altar  as  acolyte,  to  recmest  the  stranger, 
whom  we  may  as  well  now  as  afterwards  call  by  his 


20  THE      PROPHET      OF 

name,  Mr.  Charles  O'Donnell,  to  speak  a  word  with  him 
in  the  vestry.  It  was  then,  after  a  few  words  of  explana- 
tion, that  the  priest  could  account  for  the  weakness 
manifested  during  the  service,  by  one  who  was  no  pther 
than  brother  to  the  parish  priest  of  Cloughmore,  under 
sentence  of  death.  "  How  happy  I  am  to  see  you,  my 
dear  child,"  said  the  kind-hearted  old  gentleman. 
"  Alas,  that  your  visit  to  your  spiritual  father  (for  it 
was  I  baptized  you)  should  be  occasioned  by  such  a  mel- 
ancholy and  heart-rending  event  as  the  murder,  for  it 
is  nothing  less,  of  my  best  living  friend,  your  dear 
brother." 

"  Well,  it  must  be  borne  up  against  with  fortitude, 
if  it  cannot  be  averted,"  answered  O'Donnell. 

"  Averted  !  there  is  not  the  slightest  hope  of  that. 
The  Government  wanted  a  victim,  to  strike  a  salutary- 
terror,  as  they  call  it,  into  the  minds  of  the  people,  and 
they  fixed  on  my  friend,  as  the  most  respectable,  as  well 
as  the  most  influential  priest,  in  all  Ireland.  You  heard 
of  the  paltry  charge  on  which  he  was  convicted." 

"  Yes  ;  for  marrying  a  Protestant  gentleman  to  a 
Catholic  heiress,  was  it  not  ?  " 

"  That  was  the  sole  accusation  ;  but  I  really  think 
your  being  in  the  service  of  the  French  monarch  caused 
them  to  be  more  inexorable  in  his  regard.  Bless  you, 
there  were  many  petitions  forwarded  to  the  Lord  Lieu- 
tenant, and  several  noblemen  interested  themselves  on 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  21 

his  behalf,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The  whole  affair, 
between  you  and  me,  was  plotted  at  head-quarters." 

"  I  shall  be  able  to  see  him  at  any  rate,  I  hope." 

"  On  my  word,  I  doubt  it.  And,  to  speak  my  mind 
openly,  my  dear  friend,  I  am  greatly  afraid  if  they  find 
out  who  you  are,  you  won't  soon  return  back  to  France 
,  to  your  regiment.  How  in  the  world  did  you  come  here 
at  all  ?  If  those  mustachios  on  your  lip  are  noticed  by 
any  of  the  British  garrison  in  this  town,  I  am  afraid 
you  are  a  gone  man." 

"  As  to  fear,  Reverend  Father,  I  have  none.  And  as 
to  telling  how  I  came  into  your  loyal  borough  of  Dun- 
garvan,  my  oath  of  allegiance  to  my  superiors  forbids  me 
to  disclose  the  secret  of  my  conveyance  hither,  till  after 
the  accomplishment'  of  the  object  I  have  in  view,  with 
God's  assistance." 

They  now  reached  the  humble  presbytery  of  the 
venerable  pastor  and  of  both  his  younger  assistants, 
where  a  substantial  lunch  was  ready,  to  which  they  sat 
down,  after  a  long  fast,  both  by  the  priest  and  his  vis- 
itor. During  the  conversation  of  the  evening,  nothing 
struck  the  aged  pastor  so  much  as  the  imperturbable 
gravity,  and  apparently  unfeeling  coolness  of  his  new 
acquaintance.  He  spoke  not  a  word  for  hours,  nor  did 
he  join  in  the  discourses  of  the  pastor  and  his  vicars, 
save  in  answer  to  their  questions.  In  fact,  his  mind 
appeared  absent,  or  rather,  was  so  intent  on  the  chief 


22*  T  HE      l'ROPHET      OF 

thought  that  engrossed  it,  that  the  ordinary  remarks  of 
his  educated  companions,  as  having  no  reference  to  the 
subject  that  engaged  his  attention,  seemed  to  find  no 
access  to  his  intellect.  This  unusual  reserve  was  at 
once  perceived  by  the  Kev.  gentlemen  whose  guest  he 
was,  and  they  had  too  much  experience  and  knowledge 
of  human  nature  not  to  suspect  that  this  sudden  and 
mysterious  visit,  after  an  absence  of  many  years,  of 
Charles  O'Donnell,  portended  something  more  serious 
than  a  visit  of  condolence  to  his  beloved  brother  on  the 
eve  of  his  death.  The  two  senior  clergymen  now  retired 
for  the  nignt,  leaving  the  parlor  to  the  Captain  and 
Kev.  John  Murphy,  between  whom,  because  they  were 
formerly  school-fellows,  a  very  confidential  and  protracted 
conversation  was  carried  on,  from  the  two  temporary  cot 
and  sofa  beds  in  which  they  preferred  to  rest  for  the 
night.  That  most  exact  time-keeper  of  nature,  the 
cock,  had  now  proclaimed  the  hour -of  midnight,  and  the 
conference  of  the  former  school-mates  was  terminated  by 
the  stealthy  visitation  of  lazy  sleep. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  23 


CHAPTEK    II. 

A      RURAL       SCENE. 

Next  morning,  "at  the  rising  of  the  lark,"  two  horse- 
men might  be  observed  riding  out  from  the  town  above 
mentioned,  on  the  Tipperary  road,  at  a  pretty  smart 
pace.  The  one  was  our  acquaintance,  Mr.  O'Donnell, 
and  the  other  an  apparently  good-natured,  portly-look- 
ing gentleman  of  middle  age,  the  senior  curate  of  Dr. 
O'Healy.  He  was  a  Mr.  Fogarty  by  name,  and  was 
chosen  as  the  guide  of  the  Captain  in  preference  to  the 
younger  curate  Murphy,  from  the  well-known  fact,  that 
the  former's  attachment  to  the  government,  and  "  law 
and  order  people,"  was  above  suspicion,  and  his- presence 
would  certainly  save  the  stranger  from  any  impertinent 
interference  by  the  local  authorities  or  spies,  while  the 
company  of  Father  Murphy,  who  was  looked  on  as  half 
a  rebel,  would  be  sure  to  excite  suspicion,  and  probably 
lead  to  his  arrest.  The  travellers  were  silent,  while 
passing  through  the  main  streets  of  this  ducal  borough  , 


24  THE      PROPHET      OF 

but  after  having  passed  beyond  the  rows  of  wretched 
huts  and  dunghills,  which  constitute  the  well-known 
'faubourgs  of  Dungarvan,  they  entered  into  animated 
and  earnest  conversation. 

"My  dear  gentleman,"  said  the  priest  in  a  patroniz- 
ing and  authoritative  tone,  "  you  are  only  thrusting  your 
own  head  into  the  halter,  rushing  on  to  your  own  doom- 
prematurely  and  unadvisedly,  while  your  rash  course 
cannot  be  of  the  least  service  to  my  Reverend  friend, 
your  dear  brother.  You  will  be  recognized  from  your 
resemblance  to  the  priest,  and  the  well-known  fact  that 
you  are  captain  of  a  Fiench  regiment  of  cavalry,  will 
render  you,  in  the  present  state  of  the  country,  liable  to 
imprisonment  or  deal  has  a  French  spy." 

"  You  mistake  altogether,  Eeveiend  sir,  and  are 
vainly  alarmed.  This  last  circumstance,  on  the  contrary, 
will  be  a  protection  to  me.  Do  you  imagine  that  the 
British  government,  with  the  recollection  of  the  seven 
years'"  war  yet  before  their  minds,  and  the  rumors  of 
foreign  invasion  sounding  in  their  ears,  will  dare  to  put 
a  captain  of  French  Chasseurs  to  death  ;  -  and  that  while 
all  the  American  Colonies  are  in  arms  against  their 
tyranny  ?  " 

"  I  assure  you  they  will  do  so,  if  you  are  detected  as 
Charles  O'Donnell  under  the  assumed  nom  de  guerre  of 
Chevalier  St.  Victor.  Don't  you  know  that  if  they  re- 
gard you  as  a  spy  they  may  put  you  to  death  by  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  25 

common  law  of  nations  ;  and  your  being  a  British  sub- 
ject and  having  transferred  your  allegiance  to  a  Prince 
at  war  with  England,  will  subject  you  to  death  by  the 
law  of  the  land  ?  " 

"  I  am  aware  of  the  iniquitous  pretensions  of  Britain 
regarding  allegiance,  and  have  some  idea  of  the  barbarity 
of  her  cruel  laws  ;  but  I  will  risk  all,  my  character  in 
being  accounted  a  spy,  aye,  and  my  neck,  rather  than 
suffer  my  poor  innocent  brother  to  die  like  a  felon  on  a 
common  gallows." 

"  But,  my  dear  sir," — 

"  Pardon  me,  Mr.  Fogarty;  I  have  resolved  to  save 
my  brother,  or  die  in  the  attempt,  and  I  feel  a  sort  of 
presentiment  of  success.  In  the  mean  time,  pray  for 
me,  if  you  are  not  willing  to  assist  me  by  your  counsels. 
And  if  you  hear  of  my  execution,  have  the  charity  to 
say  a  mass  for  my  soul.  Good-bye.  Come  no  farther. 
I  know  the  route  well.     An  revoir." 

"  Areveder'chi,"  responded  the  Eoman-educated  and 
pompous  Fogarty,  with  a  polite  bow,  and  they  separated 
in  opposite  directions. 

The  road  from  the  seaport  of  Dungarvan  to  the  inland 
town  of  Cloughmore  leads  the  traveller  in  a  north-western 
direction,  intersecting  a  fertile  plain  running  at  the  base 
of  the  Cummerah  Mountains,  and  afterwards  gradually 
ascending  the  sides  of  these  sloping  hills,  till  you  reach 
the  summit  of  this  bare  range  ;  and  passing  between  the 
2 


26  THE      TROPHET      OF 

two  bold  peaks  of  Knocknieldown,  brings  you  by  a  rather 
precipitous,  though  a  safe  road,  into  the  very  bosom  of 
Tipperary.  The  views  that  now  presented  themselves 
to  the  observant  eye  of  our  traveller,  formed  a  pleasing 
contrast  with  the  wretched  huts  of  the  poverty-stricken 
suburbs  of  the  borough  of  the  English  Duke.  Hedges 
of  fragrant  and  smiling  hawthorn  formed  the  road-fences 
for  many  miles.  These  hedges  were  so  thick,  that  the 
smallest  bird,  the  very  wren,  could  hardly  penetrate  them, 
and  here  and  there  were  seen  little  turrets,  castles,  pyra- 
mids, arches,  and  other  artistic  ornaments,  into  which 
the  skilful  pruning-hook  of  the  nurseryman  had  carved 
this  beautiful  plant.  On  either  side  of  the  road,  flocks 
of  sheep  with  their  yeanlings  were  resting  at  the  feet  of 
the  wide-spread  beech  and  ash,  or  on  the  bare  limestone 
rocks  which  protruded  here  and  there,  to  avoid  the  heavy 
dew  which  had  fallen  on  the  rich  grass  that  grew  on 
these  splendid  pastures.  The  skylark,  after  having 
paid  her  homage  of  song  at  the  gates  of  heaven,  fell 
dazzled  and  wearied  to  the  ground.  Yellow-beaked 
blackbirds  and  speckled  thrushes  poured  forth  their 
eloquent  music  from  the  tallest  leaders  of  the  ash  or  elm  ; 
the  chorus  was  taken  up  by  whole  swarms  of  goldfinches, 
green-linnet's,  and  other  less  remarkable  warblers  of  the 
woods.  Here  the  voice  of  the  laughing  cuckoo  saluted 
our  solitary  traveller  from  the  bosom  of  a  smiling  pear- 
tree  ;   and  there,  from  the  deep  grass  of  a  meadow,  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  27 

grave  and  warning  croak  of  the  corn-crake  fell  on  his 
ear.  Here  a  numerous  herd  of  cattle,  with  bursting 
udders,  browsing  leisurely  on  the  sweet  grass  of  a  clover 
meadow,  met  his  view  ;  and  in  another  held,  inclosed 
with  high  stone  walls,  was  the  warren  of  some  titled 
lord  or  wealthy  Saxon,  where  millions  of  the  nimble- 
footed  quadrupeds,  vulgarly  called  hares  and  rabbits, 
disported  and  frisked.  Now  a  large  covey  of  partridges 
would  shoot  over  his  path ;  and  anon,  the  sudden  start- 
ing of  the  woodcock  would  interrupt  his  musings.  In  a 
word,  every  thing  that  the  eye  could  light  on,  or  the 
senses  perceive, — the  balmy  air  fragrant  with  the  evapora- 
tions of  a  thousand  honeyed  blossoms,  the  rich  verdure 
of  the  trees  and  the  fields,  the  abundance  of  well-fed  and 
high-bred  cattle,  the  plentiness  and  variety  of  the  game, 
the  taste  displayed  in  the  planting  of  trees  and  pruning 
of  hedges,  as  well  as  the  absence  of  those  miserable  huts 
which  constituted  the  suburbs  of  the  Ducal  Borough,  all, 
ail  proclaimed  to  the  traveller  or  stranger  the  unrivalled 
beauty  of  the  scene,  and  the  prodigality  of  nature  in  the 
bestowal  ~of  her  choicest  gifts  on  this  part  of  God's  earth. 
"  Great  Creator  of  all  things  !  "  he  said,  in  an  au- 
dible cxelamation  ;  "what  a  land  hast  thou  given  this 
people  !  Here  are  all  that  can  delight  the  eye,  charm 
the  ear,  or  gladden  the  heart,  and  all  thy  gifts,  O  great 
Lord  of  heaven  and  earth  !  Here  is  a  terrestrial  para- 
dise, yet  demons  possess  and    desecrate   the   soil  :  aye, 


28  THE      PROPHET      OF 

demons  in  human  shape,  the  missionaries  of  the  pande- 
monium of  British  parliaments  and  laws,  desecrate  and 
desolate  thy  sacred  soil,  0  holy  Ireland  !  How  long,  O 
Lord,  how  long  ?  " 

It  is  impossible  for  one  who  visits  Ireland  at  this 
season  of  early  spring,  not  to  be  struck  with  the  natural 
beauty  and  fertility  of  the  country.  The  mildness  of  the 
winter  leaves  the  country  as  green,  and  greener,  as 
far  as  the  grass  is  concerned,  in  the  month  of  Feb- 
ruary, than  many  other  lands  in  June.  The  labors  of 
the  husbandman  are  seldom  or  never  interrupted  by  frost 
or  snow,  and  there  is  little  or  no  need  of  his  having  to 
shelter  his  flocks  under  a  roof.  He  has  not  to  dig  a 
well  to  supply  him  with  water,  every  field  being  pro- 
vided by  nature  with  springs  of  purest  water  for  the 
refreshment  of  man  and  beast.  The  numerous  peat- 
bogs of  the  country  supply  the  Irishman  with  a  cheap, 
healthy,  and  inexhaustible  species  of  fuel,  which  the 
ingenuity  of  modern  science  has  converted  into  candles 
fit  to  adorn  the  tables  of  kings  by  the  unrivalled  bril- 
liancy of  their  light.  The  lakes  and  rivers  of  Erin 
swarm  with  countless  species  of  rare  and  wholesome 
fish.  The  mountains,  woods,  and  plantations,  and  in- 
deed the  farms  in  the  most  populous  districts,  are  lit- 
erally alive  with  game  of  the  feathered  and N  quadru- 
ped species.  Not  to  speak  of  the  mineral  resources  of 
this  land,  the  treasures  of  which  are  profusely  distribu- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  29 

ted  in  all  the   provinces   and   minor   divisions  of  the 
country. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  the  consideration  of  these  things 
occupying  the  mind  of  the  captain,  caused  him  gradu- 
ally to  curb  the  pace  of  his  spirited  steed  ;  and  it  took 
him  a  full  hour  to  pass  over  this  part  of  his  journey, 
which,  at  his  best  speed,  it  would  take  him  but  a  few 
minutes  to  accomplish.  The  glorious  orb  of  day  began 
now  to  show  its  cheering  countenance,  and  the  mists 
which  enveloped  the  mountain  summits  gradually  stole 
away,  retiring  to  the  low  retreats  of  their  origin,  or  melt- 
ing into  thin  vapor  before  the  august  presence  of  the 
day-god.  The  Captain,  after  a  moment's  pause  to  look 
back  on  the  fair  scene  he  had  passed  over,  now  set  spurs 
to  his  steed,  which,  with  a  speed  almost  equal  to  the 
rapid  flight  of  a  bird,  bore  him  over  the  smooth  surface 
of  the  well-gravelled  road,  and  he  was  soon  lost  in  the 
shadows  of  the  dark  Cummerahs.  As  he  advanced 
towards  the  mountains,  his  pace  became  necessarily 
slower,  and  here  again  he  began  to  muse  on  the  altered 
scene.  While  on  the  level  and  fertile  plain,  he  observed 
that  there  were  but  few  cottages  or  houses  of  the 
peasantry,  whereas  in  this  mountain  district  they  were 
very  numerous.  At  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  apart, 
there  were  a  few  cottages  which,  from  their  appearance, 
with  whitewashed  fronts  and  glass  windows  of  six  "or 
eight  panes  each,  as  well  as  from  four  or  five  stacks  of 


30  THE      PROPHET      OF 

hay  and  oats,  one  might  take  to  he  the  residence  of  a 
farmer  or  tiller  of  the  soil  ;  hut  the  chief  dwellings  of 
this  district  consisted  of  small  huts  of  dry-built  or  un- 
mortared  freestone,  about  eight  feet  square,  with  a  door 
in  the  centre,  no  windows  at  all,  thatched  with  heath, 
and  having  a  chimney  made  of  wattling  plastered  with 
mud,  to  carry  off  the  smoke.  Here  and  there,  as  he 
advanced,  he  observed  as  many  as  a  dozen  or  fifteen  such 
huts,  clustered  together  on  the  top  of  a  hillock,  or  at 
the  foot  of  one  of  the  ridges  of  this  marshy  range.  As 
he  approached  one  of  these  wretched  hovels,  he  could 
see  the  face  of  a  man  peeping  out  at  him  over  the  half- 
door  ;  a  bareheaded  and  barefooted  boy  or  girl  would 
here  and  there  be  seen  running  into  the  "house"  with 
an  armful  of  turf  to  make  the  morning's  fire  or  cook 
the  morning  meal  ;  but  with  the  exception  of  these 
occasional  sights,  this  dreary  and  melancholy  district 
presented  no  signs  of  life,  nor  these  hovels,  that  they 
were  inhabited,  except  that  were  concluded  from  the 
tall  and  graceful  spires  of  light-blue  smoke  which  now 
began  to  raise  themselves  aloft  to  the  clouds,  with 
their  heads  drooping  aside  like  shy  peasant-girls,  as  if 
ashamed,  and  regarding  it  as  unworthy  that  such  hum- 
ble emanations  as  they  should  be  allowed  to  mingle  with 
the  gay  and  fantastic  clouds  of  heaven  !  The  appear- 
ance of  a  "gentleman,"  and  especially  one  on  horseback, 
riding  at  such  a  rapid  rate,  and  wearing  niustachios.  on 


THE      RUINED'    ABBEY.  31 

the  lips,  was  sufficient  to  alarm  the  poor  dependant 
tenants-at-will  of  this  region,  and  his  presence  was 
shunned  as  if  he  was  an  alligator,  or  a  hungry  tiger, 
instead  of  a  fellow-creature.  How  did  they  know  but 
he  was  a  landlord,  or  an  agent  of  rent,  or  a  tithe-proctor, 
or  some  other  member  of  those  countless  officers  of  the 
English  garrison  in  Ireland,  whose  appearance  among 
the  people  is  always  an  omen  of  any  thing  but  good.  If 
he  were  on  foot,  instead  of  being  mounted  on  a  splendid 
horse,  or  if,  instead  of  broadcloth,  he  were  clothed  in 
the  frieze  and  corduroy  of  the  peasantry,  he  would  not 
have  passed  over  a  region  of  fifteen  miles  without  being 
kindly  accosted  with  the  "  God  save  you "  or  "  Good 
morrow  "  of  the  peasant ;  but  he  should  have  as  many 
invitations  as  there  were  huts  to  the  poor  hospitality  of 
their  breakfast- tables.  The  only  living  beings  that 
seemed  to  take  any  notice  of  our  horseman's  advance 
were  the  unfriendly  cur-dogs  which  escorted  him  from 
hut  to  hut,  with  many  an  angry  snarl ;  even  they  seemed 
to  recognize  him  as  belonging  to  the  hostile  race,  whose 
visit  to  these  parts  was  likely  to  be  of  very  equivocal 
advantage  to  either  man  or  beast.  He  had  now,  after 
a  ride  of  four  hours,  left  the  Cummerahs  in  the  rear,  and 
reached  the  highest  elevation  of  the  road  at  the  base  of 
the  well-known  peaks  of  Knockmeldown  without  meet- 
ing with  a  single  individual,  when  he  drew  up  his  rein 
and  halted,  to  renew  his  acquaintance  with  these  old 


32  THEPBOPHETOF 

• 

scenes  of  his  boyhood,  as  well  as  to  enjoy  the  splendid 
prospect  which  presented  itself  to  his  view  from  this 
wild  spot.  Turning  to  the  south,  all  the  county  of 
Waterford  and  Cork,  with  the  Blackwater  and  the  ocean, 
ravished  the  eye  with  the  variety  and  grandeur  as  well 
as  the  extent  of  the  vision.  Turning  to  the  north,  Tip- 
perary,  part  of  Clare,  Kilkenny,  and  King's  and  Queen's 
counties,  were  commanded  by  the  view.  On  the  south, 
the  cities  of  Waterford,  Youghall,  and  Dungarvan,  ap- 
peared smoking  on  the  shore,  as  if  they  were  emerging 
from  the  ocean.  On  the  north,  the  fine  town  of  Clonmel, 
the  "  faire  citie  "  of  Kilkenny,  with  several  other  towns, 
glittered  in  the  sunshine  which  clothed  them  in  silver 
hues.  The  "  sublime  Galtymore,"  the  queenly  "  Sleab- 
na-mon,"  the  sedate  "  Keeperhill,"  and  the  irregular  and 
surly-looking  range  of  the  "  Devil's  Bit,"  with  the 
"  Sugarloaf  Mcllicuddys "  of  Kerry,  were  also  em- 
braced within  this  panorama  of  nature.  While  stand- 
ing in  this  commanding  spot,  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing, if  not  the  finest  view  in  Europe,  the  Captain's 
attention  was  arrested  by  a  loud  masculine  but  melan- 
choly voice,  issuing  from  the  rocks  that  on  one  side 
border  the  small  circular  lake  that  lies  between  the 
eastern  and  western  peaks  of  Knockmeldown.  The 
tune  was  quite  familiar  to  his  ear,  but  he  could  only 
catch  at  a  few  of  the  words  of  the  ditty,  which  was  as 
follows : 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  33 

SONG. 

I. 

The  French  are  on  the  sea, 

Says  the  "Shau  ban  bocgt," 
The  French  are  on  the  sea, 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt," 
The  French  are  on  the  sea, 
And  they'll  be  here  without  delay, 
And  oppression  shall  decay, 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt." 

II. 

"What  will  the  yeomen  do? 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt," 
What  will  the  yeomen  do  ? 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt^" 
What  would  the  rascals  do, 
But  throw  off  the  red  and  blue, 
And  to  Liberty  prove  true  ? 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt." 

III. 

Where  shall  we  have  our  camp? 

Says  the  "Shan  ban  bocgt," 
Where  shall  we  have  our  camp  ? 

Says  the  "Shan  ban  bocgt," 
In  the  Curragh  of  Kildare, 
And  the  boys  will  all  be  there, 
With  their  pikes  in  good  repair, 

Says  the  "Shan  ban  bocgt." 
2* 


34  THE      PROPHET      OF 

IV. 

What  shall  our  colors  be? 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt,* 
What  shall  our  colors  be  ? 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt." 
What  colors  should  be  seen 
But  our  own  immortal  green, 
Where  our  fathers'  homes  have  been  ? 

Says  the  "Shan  ban  bocgt." 

V. 

And  shall  Ireland  then  be  free? 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt," 
Shall  Ireland  then  be  free  ? 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt." 
Yes,  Ireland  shall  be  free, 
From  the  centre  to  the  sea; 
Then,  hurrah  for  liberty ! 

Says  the  "  Shan  ban  bocgt." 

"  God  save  you,  sir  ! "  said  the  tall  peasant,  who 
now  made  his  appearance  above  ground,  evidently  em- 
barrassed, and  blushing  at  the  thought  that  his  rude 
voice  should  be  heard  by  such  a  skilful  ear  as  he  fancied 
the  stranger  must  be  possessed  of,  in  judging  of  the 
music  and  measure  of  the  above  very  patriotic  lay. 

"  God  save  you  kindly,  friend,"  said  the  O'Donnell. 
"  What  do  you  call  this  mountain  ?  " 

"  You  must  be  a  stranger,  then,  if  you  don't  know 
that  this  is  Knockmeldown  !      There  is  Waterford  in 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  35 

the  south.  Here  is  Tipperary,  darling  Tipperary,  on 
the  north,  and  Kilkenny  east,  Clare  west,  Cork  south- 
west, and  in  fact  all  Munster  and  a  good  deal  of  Lein- 
ster  is  here  in  prospect,"  answered  the  bold  peasant. 

"  I  find  you  have  a  taste  for  music.  What  song  is 
that  I  heard  you  sing  just  now  ?  " 

"  Oh,  nothing  but  a  bit  of  nonsense,"  answered  the 
friezecoated  peasant.  "  I  seldom  or  never  attempt  to 
sing,  though  I  have  got  a  second  half  that  can  give  you 
a  bit  of  rebel  song  well  enough,  to  shorten  the  winter's 
night."  The  Captain  could  not  help  noticing  the  in- 
dependent bearing  and  language  of  this  countryman, 
who  never  once  made  use  of  the  word  "  your  honor,"  or 
even  "  sir  ;  "  but  on  the  contrary,  talked  to  him  as  if  he 
were  his  equal,  a  thing  very  unusual  at  that  day,  or 
even  yet,  in  Ireland,  where  every  little  squire  looks  on  it 
as  an  unpardonable  insult,  if  he  is  not  "  sirred "  and 
"  honored  "  by  every  bareheaded  peasant  whom  he  has 
condescension  to  admit  to  his  presence. 

"  A  rebel  song  !  "  repeated  the  Captain,  after  a  few 
moments'  pause.  "  You  don't  call  yourself  a  rebel,  do 
you  ?  "  The  stal worth  peasant  looked  at  him  with  a 
scrutinizing  glance,  and  seeing  him  unarmed,  and  con- 
cluding from  his  accent  that  he  was  no  foreigner,  not- 
withstanding his  mustachios,  answered,  "  Begar,  friend, 
I  may  be  as  good  a  rebel  as  yourself,  every  bit,  for  I 
can't  believe  you  belong  to  the  redcoats.     I  am  not  an 


36  THE      PROPHET      OF 

actual  rebel,  however,  though  God  knows  it  is  not  for 
want  of  cause  or  good  will." 

"  But  your  song  had  some  allusion  to  the  landing  of 
the  French,  and  expressed  a  fear  for  the  safety  of  the 
yeomanry.     Do  you  not  belong  to  a  yeomanry  corps  ?  " 

"  Although  I  am  not  bound  to  answer  all  questions 
a  stranger  has  a  mind  to  put  to  me,  yet,  I  tell  you  can- 
didly, I  am  not  a  yeoman,  nor  never  will  belong  to  that 
body  of  traitors.  And  though  I  spoke  of  the  landing 
of  the  French,  it  was  rather  by  way  of  prayer  that  they 
would  land,  than  any  fear  I  have  of  their  arms.  Would 
to  God  they  were  landed,  aye,  or  the  Kussians,  or  any 
other  people  that  would  give  some  sort  of  good  govern- 
ment to  this  unhappy  country." 

"  Then  you  are  not  a  friend  to  the  British  govern- 
ment ?  " 

"  No  friend,  nor  never  can  or  will  be.  Is  that  any 
crime  in  your  eyes,  may  I  ask  ?  " 

"  Well,  to  be  candid  with  you,  no.  I  belong  to  the 
proscribed  race  and  creed,  for  the  destruction  of  which 
the  English  government  seems  solely  to  exist." 

"  Ha,  ha  !  I  knew  that  well,"  said  Terence  O'Mara, 
for  this  was  the  name  of  our  stalworth  peasant. 

"  Why,  neighbor,  how  could  you  know  I  belonged 
to  the  proscribed  creed,  or  was  a  Catholic  ?  " 

"  I  could  tell  well  enough  from  the  absence  of  that 
mixture,  or  orange  and  blue  dirty  blood  of  the  Bruns- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  37 

wickers  in  your  face.     On  the  contrary,  there  was  some- 
thing in  your  eye  wliich  said  as  plain  as  if  yOu  spoke  it, 

'  Sios  les  au  Gaul  I  neuv, 
Agus  sous  les  au  Gael  go  bragh.' 

'  May  Saxon  pride  go  dowu  a  grave  most  gory, 
As  Erin's  sons  shall  rise  to  immortal  glory.' 

Besides,  I  can  ever  almost  infallibly  tell  an  unbap- 
tized  spawnling  of  the  Cromwells  crew.  There  is  a 
species  of  unclean  brutality  in  their  face,  something  im- 
perfect, that  soils  the  '  human  face  divine/  something 
shapeless  that  reminds  one  of  a  calf  unlicked  by  her 
dam  ;  a  sav.age  blot  or  stain,  that  requires  the  grace  of 
God  and  the  waters  of  baptism  to  wash  out,  as  the  priest 
used  to  tell  us.  But  did  you  hear,"  continued  O'Mara, 
"  sure  you  did  ;  what  is  going  to  take  place  down  in 
that  town  yonder  to-morrow  ?  The  parish  priest  is 
going  to  be  hanged,  aye,  hanged  like  a  dog,  for  no  other 
crime  but  that  he  is  a  good  and  faithful  pastor.  I  tell 
you  the  truth,  sir." 

"  Could  there  be  nothing  done  to  save  him  ?  "  said  the 
Captain. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  answered  O'Mara,  cautiously.  "  I 
cannot  say  what  may  be  done." 

"  Will  the  people  of  this  great  county  of  Tippcrary 
stand  as  idle  spectators,  while  their  pastor  is  swinging 
from  the  gallows  like  a  felon  ?  " 

"My  God  !  how  can  I  tell  ?"  said  the  peasant,  fearing 


y^   /f 


38  THE      PROPHET      OF 

he  had  betrayed  himself.  "  But  see  here,  young  gentle- 
man/' he  said,  drawing  a  sword  from  under  his  riding 
coat,  and  grasping  the  reins  by  the  left  hand,  "  tell  me 
who  you  are  at  once,  and  what  is  your  errand,  or  you 
die  instantly,  and  that  bottomless  lake  will  be  your 
grave.     Come,  speak  at  once,  or  prepare  for  death." 

'x  Be  not  rash,  friend,"  said  the  Captain  ;  "  you  see 
I  am  unarmed,  and  at  your  mercy.  I  would  willingly 
tell  you.  who  I  am,  and  what  my  errand  to  these  parts 
at  present,  but  how  do  I  know  but  you  are  one  of  those 
ruffian  yeomanry  whose  song  I  heard  you  chant  a  few 
minutes  since  ?  " 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost," 
said  he,  crossing  himself.  "  By  Heaven  I  am  a  Catholic, 
a  rebel  and  a  conspirator  against  British  power  in  this 
Island.     Come,  who  are  you  ?  " 

"  Well,  I  am  brother  to  this  Father  O'Donnell  whom 
you  seem  to  love  so  much,  and  determined,  if  I  can,  to 
save  him  from  the  ignominious  halter  of  the  Saxon." 

"  Forgive  me,  Captain,  I  know  you  now.  Forgive 
me,  I  pray  you  on  my  knees,"  exclaimed  the  brave 
O'Mara. 

"  Piise  up,  friend,  I  beseech  you.  So  far  from  having 
any  thing  to  ask  forgiveness  for,  I  applaud  your  caution, 
and  admire  your  courage.  Give  us  your  hand  ;  O'Mara, 
I  suspect,  is  your  name.  You  are  the  man  of  whom 
Rev.  John  Murphy  gave  me  such  a  high  character." 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  am  the  man,  Terence  O'Mara,  a  sworn 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  39 

enemy  of  the  British  government.  Bnt  what  can  we 
do  for  your  brother,  our  clear  pastor  ?  Here  is  my  plan. 
I  have  about  five  hundred  of  the  neighboring  farmers' 
sons  enrolled  in  body,  and  pledged  to  break  open  the  jail 
and  rescue  our  pastor  -to-night  ;  and  if  we  fail  in  that, 
go  in  disguise  to-morrow  to  the  place  of  execution,  and 
with  concealed  pistols  and  daggers,  make  a  rush  on  his 
ruffian  captors  and  rescue  him,  or  die  in  the  attempt." 

"  Five  hundred  young  men,  you  said  !  " 

"  Aye,  that  exactly." 

"  And  what  is  the  number  of  the  enemy ;  I  mean 
the  redcoats  in  the  town  ?  " 

"  Two  thousand,  at  least,  besides  the  militia  or 
yeomanry." 

"  Mon  Dieu  !  I  fear  your  force  would  never  effect 
what  you  have  resolved  on." 

"  What  is  to  be  done,  then  ?  I  am  sure  I  will 
never  survive  to-morrow  if  Father  O'Donnell  is  hanged, 
or  I  will  escape  after  the  slaughter  of  some  of  his  execu- 
tioners." 

"  We  must  try  stratagem  in  the  business.  See  and 
get  him  out  of  their  hands  first,  and  then  fight  after- 
wards, if  necessary." 

"  Aye,  but  how  can  that  be  done  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  yet  tell  you,  as  I  do  not  know  whether  or 
not  my  plan  will  succeed.  Let  me  see  how  were  your 
followers  to  be  brought  together  ?  " 


40  THl     PROPHET      OF 


u 


By  signal.  We  light  a  fire  on  the  left  peak  of  this 
two-headed  mountain,  to  tell  the  boys  to  stay  at  home, 
and  the  right  peak  blazes  to  call  them  to  arms." 

"  Well,  if  I  succeed  in  my  strategy  well  and  good  ; 
but  if  I  fail,  a  messenger  will  meet  you  here  at  dusk  to 
give  order  about  the  signals.  Let's  see  ;  if  my  messen- 
ger does  not  arrive  an  hour  after  night,  that  will  be  a 
sign  of  my  success  ;  stop  your  followers,  by  lighting  the 
fire  on  the  left  ;  if,  on  the  contrary,  a  man  with  a  white 
crape  on  his  head  instead  of  a  hat  appear,  summon  your 
followers,  and  attack  the  prison  at  midnight." 

"  All  right ;  it  shall  be  done  as  you  say.  Success 
to  the  brave.  God  be  with  you.  Stay,  one  word  more. 
When  you  advance  about  two  miles,  turn  to  the  left,  at 
the  base  of  the  hill,  and  by  crossing  over  the  river  a 
mile  below  the  bridge,  where  it  is  fordable,  you  will 
guard  against  interruption  and  annoyance  from  these 
rascally  yeomen,  who  are  scouting  around  the  highways 
in  all  directions.     Here,  take  these  pistols." 

"  No,  thank  you.  My  mission  was  begun  peacefully 
under  the  auspices  of  holy  religious  personages,  and  I 
will  carry  it  out  as  it  began,  leaving  the  issue  to  Him 
who  is  able  to  save  the  unarmed  as  well  as  the  armed. 
I  will  follow  your  instructions  regarding  the  by-road. 
Farewell  for  the  present."  He  spoke,  and  was  instantly 
out  of  sight  on  his  way  to  the  home  of  his  childhood, 
and  the  scenes  of  his  earliest  recollections. 


THE      KUINED      ABBEY.  41 


CHAPTEE    III. 

FRATERNAL      AFFECTION. 

Terry  O'Mara  returned  to  his  house,  and  the  Cap- 
tain now  approached  Fairy  Hill  Cottage,  the  residence 
of  his  ancestors  from  time  immemorial,  and  now  that  of 
his  brother  the  representative  of  his  family.  This  cot- 
tage was  situated  on  a  picturesque  hill,  about  two  miles 
west  of  the  market-town  of  Cloughmore.  The  public 
high-road  bounded  the  O'Donnell  farm  on  the  east  ;  on 
the  south,  a  tributary  of  the  Blackwater  or  "  Avonduv" 
divided  it  from  the  common  at  the  foot  of  Knockmel- 
down.  On  the  west  it  was  bordered  by  the  demesne  of 
Lord  Barterborough,  and  on  the  north  by  the  woodland 
of  the  same  Saxon  lord.  The  elevated  position  of  the 
house  enabled  the  inmates  to  spy  the  approach  of  any  vis- 
itor, at  a  distance  of  at  least  half  a  mile  from  the  cottage, 
and  it  was  with  no  small  anxiety,  that  the  horseman, 
in  full  gallop,  was  observed  by  one  of  the  domestics 
making  for  the  cottage. 


THE      PROPHET      OF 

w 

"  Miss  Mary,  I'd  know  what  gentleman  on  horse- 
back is  that  racin'  up  the  meadow  ?  He  looks  like  an 
officer  of  dhragoons,"  said  Peggy  Melehan,  the  kitchen- 
maid,  rushing  into  the  parlor  where  the  former  sat 
reading. 

"  Where,  Peggy,  where  ?  Oh,  I  see.  My  dear, 
who  can  it  be  ?  A  gentleman  with  mustachios,  too, 
but  very  like  my  Uncle  Charles.  0  laus,  it  is  he  ! 
Kun  and  call  the  master." 

Ere  the  slow  Peggy  was  half  way  to  the  stable  where 
Thomas  O'Donnell  was  giving  some  instructions  to  his 
man  Ned  Moran,  previously  to  his  paying  his  last  visit, 
as  he  expected,  in  company  with  his  wife  and  children, 
to  the  cell  of  his  reverend  brother,  the  Captain  had 
cleared  the  lawn  quick-fence,  and  in  a  moment  was  by 
the  side  of  "  Miss  Mary,"  with  both  her  hands  pressed 
between  his  own.  Tears  choked  the  fair  creature's  ut- 
terance as  she  attempted  to  give  her  relative  an  account 
of  what  they  were  now  preparing  for  :  to  pay  the  last 
visit  to  her  reverend  uncle. 

"  Hush,  my  dear  child,"  said  the  Captain  of  the 
Chasseurs  de  Yincenncs,  endeavoring  to  curb  his  own 
rebellious  emotions,  "  is  this  all  you  can  do  for  your  un- 
cle ?  Have  you  no  plan,  or  can  you  devise  no  means  of 
procuring  poor  Father  Senan's  escape  ?  " 

"Escape  !"  she  exclaimed  with  surprise,  "how  can 
he  escape,  and  his  prison  guarded  by  at  least  two  thou- 


-THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  43 

sand  troops  ?  What  plan  can  I  devise/if  they  would 
not  rest  satisfied  to  take  me  as  a  hostage  or  substitute 
for  him  ;  and  I  would,  God  is  my  witness,  willingly  suffer 
death  to  save  the  life  of  a  good  priest." 

"  Hostage,  indeed  !  Yes,  by  my  sword,  if  the  king 
saw  you,  Miss  Mary,  he  might  take  you  as  a  hostage  ; 
but  we  must  try  some  other  and  less  expensive  way  of 
wresting  his  victim  from  the  tyrant.  We  can't  afford 
to  risk  the  'fair  Miss  Mary/  on  such  a  game  of 
hazard,"  said  he,  looking  at  the  magnificent  girl  with 
pride  and  complacency.  "  But  has  it  come  to  this,"  he 
continued,  "that  the  O'Donnells  have  no  friends  now 
left  ?  Where  arc  the  '  Goios  and  the  Polcens,'  the 
'  Caravats  and  Slianavests,'  the  'Defenders  and  the 
JRocJcs,'  and  the  other  factions  that  so  frequently  pro- 
fessed friendship  for  our  family  ?  " 

"  Where  are  they,  did  you  ask  ?"  said  the  afflicted 
girl,  recovering  from  her  overwhelming  tears.  "  I  really 
do  not  know,  for  father  never  allowed  me  to  learn  any 
thing  of  such  factions,  and  I  am  sure  the  priest  himself 
would  rather  die  than  owe  his  rescue  to  such  people  as 
you  spoke  of.  He  was  ever  consistently  opposed  to  fac- 
tions, and  all  illegal  combinations  against  the  govern- 
ment." 

"  Aye  so,  and  by  way  of  thanks  the,  government,  for 
his  pains  on  behalf  of  their  system,  will  make  a  martyr 
of  him,  and  thus  secure  his  salvation  !     Are  not  they 


44  THE      PROPHET      O  ¥ 

kind  ?  Where  is  your  father,  Mary  ?  Run,  call  him 
here.  At  what  hour  did  you  say  he  was  to  have  the  in- 
terview with  the  priest  ?  " 

"  At  six  o'clock  precisely,  as  the  pass  he  has  pro- 
cured from  the  commanding  officer,  Colonel  Clive,  speci- 
fies, and  none  can  he  admitted  but  father  and  mother, 
with  me  and  little  Charley  and  Hugh." 

"  Six  o'clock  !  Mon  Dieu  !  and  it  is  now  near  four," 
said  he,  looking  at  his  timepiece.  "  Haste,  Mary,  haste, 
you  fairy,  and  call  your  father." 

Thomas  entered  as  he  spoke,  and  the  brothers  on 
meeting  grasped  each  other's  hands  like  men,  giving  ex- 
pression rather  by  looks  than  words  to  the  poignant 
grief  which  rent  their  manly  bosoms. 

"Ah,  Charles,"  said  .the  senior  brother,  "what 
brought  you  here  at  such  a  time  ?  Or,  are  you  not 
satisfied  that  poor  Senan  should  be  sacrificed,  without 
exposing  your  own  life  by  coming  back  to  such  a 
wretched  country  ?  Are  you  not  aware  that  your  being 
in  the  French  service  contributed  in  no  small  degree  to 
bring  about  this  murderous  result  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Tom,  I  could  conjecture  if  I  had  not  heard 
as  much  ;  but  on  that  very  account,  was  I  not  bound 
to  do  something  to  save  him  whom  the  fact  of  his  hav- 
ing a  brother  abroad,  exposed  to  the  hemp  of  cursed 
England  ?  If  I  am  the  occasion  of  his  unjust  convic- 
tion, am  I  not  bound  to  try  and  save  him  from  the  con- 
sequences of  that  iniquitous  sentence  ?  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  45 

"  That  would  be  very  noble  and  very  generous,  if 
there  was  any  chance  or  probability  of  your  succeeding. 
The  proposal  has  been  submitted  to  me  by  that  brave 
fellow  O'Mara,  and  others  ;  but  seeing  no  probable 
chances  of  success,  I  decline  the  proffered  aid." 

"  Why,  man,  let  us  make  a  probability.  Let  us  set 
about  creating  chances  of  success,  and  we  will,  we  can- 
not but  succeed.  Are  you  not  preparing  to  visit  Senan 
this  evening  ?  " 

"  Yes,  in  about  two  hours  or  less." 

"  Well,  then,  leave  me  to  make  that  visit  in  your 
stead,  and  see  if  I  cannot  release  the  victim  from  his 
bloodhounds." 

"  Ah,  my  dear  Charles,  you  can  have  no  idea  of  the 
vigilance  of ." 

"  Nonsense,  Tom.  For  God's  sake  let  me  alone  ;  I 
can't  put  up  witli  these  lamentations.  I  am  Captain  of 
a  regiment  of  '  Chasseurs  de  Vincennes,'  and  I  must  be 
obeyed.  Come,  Miss  Mary,  have  you  all  things  ready 
as  I  instructed  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  await  your  commands  like  an  obedient 
aid-de-camp." 

The  officer  now  returned  from  a  bedroom  off  the 
parlor,  with  the  whiskers  of  his  brother  carefully  de- 
posited in  a  sheet  of  paper,  which  he  laid  on  the  work- 
table  of  Mary  and  her  younger  sister  Bridget,  who,  un- 
der the  instructions  of  the  Captain,  commenced  stitching 


46  THE      PROPHET      OF 

the  beard  to  two  flesh-colored  pieces  of  satin  cloth. 
This  operation  excited  the  risible  propensities  of  Bridget 
to  an  uncontrollable  degree  ;  and  though  her  fingers 
moved  very  nimbly  over  the  surface  of  the  small  piece 
on  which  she  had  to  tack  the  beard  of  her  father,  the 
muscles  of  her  face  and  her  mouth  moved  quicker. 

"  That  is  nice  manners,  Bid,"  said  Mary.  "  You 
ought  not  to  laugh  and  skit  so  when  your  uncle  is  going 
to  be  put  to  death." 

"  I  can't  help  it,  Mary,"  said  giggling  Bridget — "  he, 
he,  he  !  when  I  see  how  queer  my  father  looks  after  his 
whiskers  are  cut  off — he,  he,  he  ! " 

"  I  will  cut  off  them  fine  curls  from  your  neck  Bid, 
my  damsel,"  said  the  Captain,  "  if  you  do  not  work  neatly 
and  quickly.  Laugh  away  though,  provided  you  do  your 
task  well  and  expeditiously  ;  quick  you  guinea-hen,  quick, 
or  I  will  put  my  threat  into  execution.  Go  you,  Peggy," 
said  he,  turning  to  the  kitchen  maid,  "  and  get  a  little 
paste  or  starch  ready  as  soon  as  you  can." 

"  Thick  or  thin,  sir  ?  "  rejoined  Peggy. 

"  Thick,  strong,  good  and  quick,  Peggy." 

Within  an  hour  Miss  Mary  and  her  nimble-fingered 
assistant  Bridget,  had  succeeded  in  stitching  the  grave 
whiskers  of  their  father  on  the  pieces  of  satin  cut  out 
for  them  by  the  Captain,  who,  in  a  few  moments  after, 
had  succeeded  by  aid  of  the  starch  of  Peggy  in  adjust- 
ing them  to  his  own  cheeks.     His  foreign  lip-beard  or 


THE      RUINED      ABB  E.  Y .  47 

mustachios  had  next  to  be  disposed  of,  after  falling  be- 
neath the  edge  of  a  merciless  razor,  and  the  foreign 
dress  of  the  elegant  French  gentleman  had  to  be  ex- 
changed for  the  native  frieze,  blue  broadcloth,  and  cash- 
mere  shorts  of  the  Irish  farmer.  Thus  equipped,  the 
Captain,  accompanied  by  his  brother's  wife,  the  Miss 
O'Donnell,  and  two  of  the  younger  children,  at  about 
half-past  five  o'clock  set  out,  in  the  family  vehicle  or 
side-car,  to  pay  the  last  visit  of  condolence  to  their  Rev- 
erend relative  in  his  prison  cell  at  the  town  of  Clough- 
more. 

The  party  were  met  at  the  prison  gate  by  the  chief 
jailer,  an  Englishman  named  Bremner,  who,  during  the 
confinement  of  the  clergyman,  was  sent  over  to  super- 
sede an  Irishman  who  held  the  post  from  time  imme- 
morial, but  whose  fidelity  in  the  present  instance  was 
suspected  on  account  of  some  little  courtesies  of  his  to 
the  prisoner.  Their  names  were  called  for,  and  their 
passports  vised  by  this  important  official,  and  upon  his 
finding  them  "  all  right,"  the  party  were  ushered  by  an 
under  functionary  into  the  cell  of  the  doomed  priest. 
They  found  the  venerable  martyr  on  his  knees  before  the 
crucifix  by  the  side  of  his  iron  bedstead,  with  his  mind 
so  absorbed  in  prayer  as  to  seem  to  his  visitors  to  be  in 
a  perfect  trance.  Accustomed  to  the  abrupt  visits  of 
officials,  and  annoyed  by  those  who  came  to  offer  hu- 
miliating terms  of  pardon,  the  pious  confessor  paid  no 


48  THE      PROPHET      OF 

attention  to  the  entrance  of  his  relatives,  and  his  fervent 
acts  of  piety  were  not  in  the  least  distracted  till  the  loud 
sobs  and  cries  of  the  female  portion  of  the  visitors  re- 
called his  senses  from  their  extatic  communings  with 
the  world  of  spirits.  It  was  some  time  before  he  could 
recognize  his  brother  Charles,  disguised  as  he  was,  and 
it  was  not  without  a  good  deal  of  argument  that  he  was 
prevailed  on  to  embrace  the  chance  which  was  offered 
him  of  making  his  escape.  "  I  hope  I  am  now  prepared 
for  death,"  he  said,  "and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  that 
I  should  come  to  this  end,  I  am  satisfied.  I  am  guilty 
of  no  crime  ;  I  have  not  even  violated  the  letter  of  an 
iniquitous  law,  for  the  parties  I  married  were  both 
Catholics.     Let  me,  Charles,  let  me  die." 

"  But,  my  dear  sir,  you  are  a  priest  of  God  as  well 
as  an  innocent  man,  and  it  would  be  sacrilege  to  allow 
your  murderers  to  shed  your  consecrated  blood.  Besides, 
it  would  discourage  the  poor  people  more  than  any  thing 
that  has  happened  for  three  hundred  years.  It  would 
actually  throw  them  into  utter  despair,  and  give  a  tri- 
umph to  their  enemies,  the  effect  of  which  would  be 
felt  for  many  a  long  day  to  come." 

"  No,  Charles,  I  cannot  forfeit  the  crown  which  I  am 
persuaded  will  be  mine  in  suffering  for  the  faith,  and 
forming  one  in  that  succession  of  glorious  martyrs  which 
has  adorned  the  church  of  St.  Patrick  for  the  last  five 
hundred  years.      Besides,  how  could  I,  in  conscience, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  49 

agree  to  have  you,  a  brother,  sacrificed  to  preserve  the 
few  remaining  years  of  my  useless  life  ?  No,  it  cannot 
be — it  must  not  be,  Charles." 

"  But,  my  dear  brother,  you  mistake,  I  will  not  be 
sacrificed.  A  hair  of  my  head  won't  suffer  while  I  hold 
the  rank  I  do  in  the  service  of  the  French  monarch. 
They  dare  not  execute  me.  In  the  name  of  Heaven  ex- 
change clothes  with  me,  and  embrace  the  chance  which 
Providence  has  put  in  your  power.  Listen  to  reason, 
my  dear  brother." 

"  For  God's  sake  !  Charles,  do  not  rob  me  of  the 
crown  that  is  within  my  reach.  I  shall  ascend  the  gal- 
lows' steps  with  the  joy  of  a  bridegroom.  I  am  in  peace 
with  the  world  and  with  my  Lord,  I  hope  ;  and  the  people 
will  be  edified  rather  than  scandalized  at  my  sufferings." 

"  Oh,  brother  of  my  soul !  why  will  you  not  yield  to 
reason  and  humanity  ?  What  a  catastrophe  you  will 
bring  about  by  this  obstinacy.  Know  then,  if  I  must 
tell  you,  that  the  peasantry  .have  armed  to  the  number 
of  several  hundred  men,  sworn  to  rescue  you  or  die  in 
the  attempt.  Oh,  what  havoc  you  will  have  to  witness 
at  the  hour  of  your  death  ! " 

"  What,  Charles,  what  do  you  say  ?  Surely  you  de- 
ceive me  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  no.  I  declare  to  you  on  my  word,  and 
solemn  oath,  if  you  ask  me,  that  if  you  do  not  now 
embrace  my  proposition,  not  only  yourself,  I,  and  our 

3 


50  THE      PROPHET      OF 

brother  Thomas,  but  most  of  your  people  will  be  cut 
down  by  the  cruel  soldiery  of  this  town/' 

The  female  portion  of  this  party,  who,  during  this 
conversation,  carried  on  in  a  low  tone  of  voice  and  in 
French,  kept  up  a  loud  crying  and  sobbing  in  order  to 
prevent  the  guard  at  the  door  from  hearing,  now  joined 
theirs  with  the  entreaties  of  the  brother,  begging  of  the 
priest,  for  "  God's  sake,  and  as  he  regarded  their  feel- 
ings," to  consent  to  escape  from  the  hands  of  his  execu- 
tioners. 

These  things  staggered  his  resolution,  but  especially 
when  he  heard  that  there  was  to  be  a  rescue.  As  he 
lived  for  the  salvation  of  his  people,  next  to  the  glory 
of  God,  and  as,  like  St.  Paul,  he  wished  to  become 
anathema,  if  necessary,  for  the  flock  committed  to  him 
by  his  Lord,  so  his  desire  even  of  the  crown  of  martyr- 
dom yielded  to  his  desire  to  save  the  flock  of  Christ. 
He  consulted  his  Redeemer  again  a  few  minutes  in 
prayer,  and  raising  himself  up,  he  exclaimed,  "  Now  I 
am  ready,  Charles.  It  seems  my  hour  is  not  yet  come. 
If  it  be  the  providence  of  God  to  conduct  me  by  his 
angel  from  this  dungeon,  and  from  the  power  of  the 
Philistines,  why,  I  must  not  resist  his  will."' 

One  hour  was  all  the  time  that  the  visit  was  to  last, 
and  now  the  guard  at  the  door  cried  out  that  the  third 
quarter  of  the  hour  was  now  past.  "  Prepare,"  he  said, 
"  and  be  ready  to  leave  at  seven  o'clock  precisely." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  51 


« 


Oh,  dear  sir,  won't  you  allow  me  to  remain  another 
hour  with  my  clear  uncle,  whom  I  shall  never  again  see  in 
this  world  ?  "  said  Miss  Mary,  who  now  went  to  the  cell- 
door,  in  order  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  officious 
guard  from  what  was  going  on  in  the  cell. 

"  You  can  zee  'im  to-morrow  at  den  o'clock,  haw  ! 
haw  !  haw  !  if  you  look  towards  Gallows  'ill,  my  lassie," 
answered  the  Saxon  churl. 

"  Ah !  God  forgive  you  your  cruel  jest,  soldier.  But 
here,  friend,  take  this  pound  note,  and  allow  us  to  re- 
main here  for  one  half  hour  lonsrer." 

"  One  'alf  hour  !  Nay,  nay.  I  should  get  the  lock- 
up for  that,  or  cau't  ma'tial.  I  shaunt  for  a  pound,  nor 
for  foive  pounds,  nuther.  But  wait,  an'  you  let's  'ave 
the  pound,  I'll  put  back  the  clock  a  quarter  hour." 

'  Well,  take  it,"  she  said,  handing  him  the  note, 
which  the  fellow  carefully  hid  in  the  lining  of  his  helmet, 
and  off  he  starts  to  the  lower  end  of  the  corridor,  to  put 
back  the  clock. 

While  this  negotiation  was  going  on  and  being  exe- 
cuted, the  Captain  was  stripped  of  his  wdiiskers  and 
other  external  disguises,  in  which  the  priest  soon  be- 
came so  enveloped  as  to  deceive  the  sharpest  scrutiny. 
As  they  left  the  prison  precincts,  they  raised  the  famous 
mournful  Irish  "  ullullu  !  "  in  which  they  were  joined  by 
a  number  of  women  at  the  jail-gate,  and  subsequently  by 
all  the  townspeople,  from  whom  it  spread  through  the 


52  THEPEOPHETOF 

country  in  all  directions,  so  that  the  mountains  and 
valleys  of  Waterford,  Kilkenny  and  Tipperary,  re-echoed 
for  hours  the  wailing  and  lamentation  that  ascended  to 
heaven  in  testimony  of  the  innocence  of  the  victim  of  the 
cruel  government  of  perjured  England.  The  poor  priest 
himself  was  overpowered  with  grief,  and  mingled  his 
tears  with  those  of  the  affectionate  but  helpless  people 
who  lamented  his  fate.  There  were  several  "  keeners," 
or  female  chanters  of  extemporary  dirges  also  present  to 
add  pathos  to  these  lamentations.  This  species  of  poetry 
was  composed  and  sung  at  the  same  moment,  and  often 
kept  up  for  several  hours,  and  even  days,  over  the  dead 
bodies  of  the  great  in  ancient  times.  Those  who  were 
skilled  in  this  sort  of  composition  were  called  "  Phelehs," 
who  sometimes  discharged  this  sad  duty  for  pay  ;  but 
more  frequently,  as  in  the  present  instance,  it  was  per- 
formed from  affection  or  out  of  respect  to  the  virtues  of 
the  deceased.  Although  the  proper  place  for  poetical 
lamentations  was  over  the  corpse  or  at  the  "  wake  "  of 
the  deceased  chief,  patriot,  warrior,  or  other  benefactor 
of  his  race  or  country,  yet  in  cases  where  death  was  cer- 
tain, as  in  the  instance  of  Father  O'Donnell,  or  where 
the  victim  was  a  distinguished  one,  the  "keening"  com- 
menced on  the  eve  of  his  death.  And  besides,  it  was 
understood  that  the  body  of  the  pastor  of  Cloughmore 
was  not  to  be  restored  to  the  relatives,  but  quartered, 
and  hung  in  conspicuous  places  for  the  terror  of  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  53 

peasantry  ;  and  this  was  an  additional  reason  for  this 
commencement  of  the  "  keen  "  to  mourn  his  death  while 
he  was  yet  living.  We  give  here,  as  far  as  an  imperfect 
translation  will  allow  us;  one  of  the  many  "  keens  "  or 
dirges  that  were  sung  on  this  occasion. 

KEEN. 

O  Saggarth  loved  !  we  grieve  this  gloomy  noon; 

How  sad  our  souls,  to  part  with  thee  so  soon ! 

Had  you  hut  died  upon  your  bed,  consoled 

By  grace  from  God,  and  through  a  pastor  doled, 

E'en  with  those  comforts,  would  your  death  begin 

A  grief  to  millions  of  your  fellow-men; 

But  on  the  gallows,  like  a  thief,  to  die, 

Promotes  complaints  that  rend  the  conscious  sky. 

What  shall  we  do,  now  since  our  father's  gone? 

When  sickness  comes,  O  whither  shall  we  run  ? 

And  when  the  wolf  into  the  fold  impels 

A  stealthy  ingress  to  the  sacred  cells, 

Who,  who  shall  stand  to  guard  the  portals  then, 

And  guide  to  life  the  erring  sons  of  men  ? 

He  who  long  erst  enabled  them  to  stand 

'Gainst  the  worst  snares  that  error  ever  planned, 

Who  stood  a  champion  of  Jehovah's  cause, 

Till  he  a  prey  fell  to  Britannia's  laws. 

In  Innisfail,  O  let  this  day  be  gloom, 

Let  millions  grieved  resent  the  illegal  doom ! 

Our  curse  upon  the  Sassenagh's  decree, 

Cursed  be  his  name  who  plundered  us  of  thee! 

Rend  your  dark  hair,  you  maidens  unconsoled, 

Lament  our  patriot  sacrificed  and  sold ! 


54  THE      PROPHET      OF 

O  dreadful  woe !     "Who  blushes  to  condole  ? 
O  God,  receive  the  patriot  martyr's  soul ! 

While  this  wild  cry,  or  such  as  this,  was  borne  on 
the  gently  careering  breeze,  and  reverberated  along  the 
mountains,  hills,  and  plains,  Terence  O'Mara  was  anx- 
iously awaiting  the  promised  messenger  on  the  hill-pass 
on  Knockmeldown.  The  appointed  hour  having  elapsed, 
and  no  messenger  having  made  his  appearance,  the  shrewd 
peasant  at  once  concluded  that  the  stratagem  of  the  Cap- 
tain had  been  successful,  and  he  regarded  the  "ullullu 
of  keeners"  which  reached  his  ears,  as  probably  a  ruse 
on  the  part  of  the  people  to  put  the  keepers  of  Father 
O'Donnell  off  their  guard. 

"  'Tis  hard  to  resist  taking  up  this  mournful  chorus, 
brought  hither  on  the  wings  of  the  evening  wind,"  said 
he  to  himself  ;  "  but  yet  I  won't  join  in  this  melancholy 
ditty  till  I  see  for  what.  I  won't  weep  for  my  beloved 
pastor  till  I  see  him  dead  first."  And  so  saying,  he 
came  out  from  under  the  shelving  rock  where  he  lay 
concealed  ;  and  hiding  his  rifle  and  ammunition  in  a 
crevice  of  the  rock,  he  advanced  cautiously  on  the  pub- 
lic road  towards  the  town. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  55 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE     ESCAPE. 

The  side-car  on  which  our  party  of  mourning  visitors 
rode,  now  returned  to  "  Fairy  hill,"  and  a  few  minutes 
for  refreshments,  exchanging  of  greetings,  and  prayer- 
ful congratulations,  were  all  that  the  necessity  of  the 
case  allowed,  ere  the  departure  of  the  escaped  prisoner. 
After  a'  few  minutes  spent  in  fervent  prayer,  the  Rev- 
erend gentleman  returned  from  a  small  oratory  which 
was  situated  at  the  east  end  of  the  building,  and  the 
entire  family  having  placed  themselves  on  their  knees, 
he  imparted  to  them,  severally,  his  blessing  and  the 
blessing  of  Heaven.  He  next  presented  each  with 
some  little  memento,  such  as  a  ring,  a  prayer-book,  a 
cross,  a  string  of  beads,  a  little  medal,  a  picture,  or 
-it her  such  memorial ;  and  having  again  bid  them  another 
"  God  be  with  you,"  and  "  God  bless  you,"  he  bade  a 
hist  farewell,  and  parted  for  ever  from  the  hereditary 
threshold  of  his  ancestors.      The  horse  on  which  the 


56  THE      PROPHET      OF 

Captain  had  arrived  stood  saddled  at  the  hall  door,  the 
rein  held  by  Thomas  O'Donnell,  who  had  already 
mounted  his  favorite  gray  mare  "  Seagull,"  and  without 
arms  or  ammunition,  the  brothers  set  out  together  for 
the  port  of  Dungarvan,  via  Knockmeldown. 

They  moved  along  rapidly  and  silently  for  a  time, 
both  becoming  saddened  in  mind,  at  the  probable  fate 
that  was  to  await  their  generous  and  heroic  brother 
Charles  ;  at  length,  their  steeds  having  slackened  their 
pace  a  little,  as  they  advanced  towards  the  mountain, 
the  priest,  who  was  as  yet  in  darkness  regarding  the 
manner  of  the  Captain's  arrival,  as  he  was  regarding  his 
own  destination,  after  they  reached  the  seaport,  asked 
his  brother  Thomas  how  in  the  world  did  Charles 
come  to  know  his  fate,  or  how  did  he  penetrate  so  far 
into  the  country  unobserved  by  the  English  ? 

"  Your  fate,  brother/'  answered  the  former,  "  was 
well  known  in  France,  and  created  a  great  deal  of  sym- 
pathy at  the  court  of  his  most  Christian  majesty,  who 
first  attempted  to  save  you  by  sending  instructions  to 
his  ambassador  at  London,  to  intercede  with  the  king 
of  England  for  you  ;  and  having  failed  to  save  you  by 
negotiation,  afterwards,  at  the  request  of  Charles,  whom 
God  save,  his  majesty  allowed  the  royal  yacht,  the  '  Joan 
d'Arc,'  to  convey  him  to  the  Irish  coast,  and  you  to 
France,  in  case  Charles  succeeded  in  rescuing  you." 

"  Ah,  what  a  kind-hearted  and  magnanimous  prince. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  57 

I  shall  never  forget  his  majesty's  goodness  of  heart  since 
the  time  that  I,  being  a  student  at  the  Sorbonne,  and 
getting  my  degree,  his  majesty,  then  the  Dauphin  of 
France,  presented  me  with  the  gold  medal,  in  preference 
to  many  others  who  were  candidates,  and  superior  can- 
didates to  me,  in  the  contest  for  the  honor.  Alas  !  that 
treasure  is  now  with  the  rest  of  my  means,  I  fear,  irre- 
vocably lost  to  me  by  the  plunder  of  my  effects  by  the 
English  soldiery  !  But  you  did 'not  tell  me,  Thomas, 
how  Charles  heard  of  my  being  in  durance  ;  all  commu- 
nication with  him,  you  know,  being  long  since  prohib- 
ited by  our  cruel  governors  ?  " 

"  He  heard  all  about  it  from  Kilpatrick  and  his  lady, 
who,  on  hearing  of  your  arrest  in  Scotland,  which  they 
set  out  for  on  the  day  of  their  marriage  accompanied 
by  Ossorry,  as  you  are  aware,  soon  after  set  out  for 
France,  with  the  double  view  of  avoiding  any  danger  to 
which  the  cruelty  of  the  government  might  expose  them, 
as  well  as,  if  possible,  to  save  you  through  the  French 
court's  intervention." 

"  Ah,  that  was  how  poor  Charles  got  word  of  my 
trouble,  was  it  ?  " 

"  Yes,  and  it  is  well  that  he  did.  For  much  as  wc 
love  him,  and  great  as  our  grief  would  be  for  his  loss, 
should  he  fall  a  sacrifice  to  his  generous  affection  in 
your  behalf,  we  would  count  his  fate  as  nothing,  when 
you  are  safe." 

3* 


58  THE      PROPHET      OF 

"  I  am  not  sure  but  your  idea  of  these  things  is  en- 
tirely a  mistaken  one.  He  may  be  of  some  use  to  king 
or  country,  but  I,  what  use  can  I  be  to  any  thing  or 
any  body  ?" 

"  I  know,  brother,  as.  regards  personal  merits,  youth, 
prospects  of  advancement,  and  all  that,  Charles  may 
be  regarded  as  the  greater  loss  to  the  O'Donnell  name  ; 
but  when  we  regard  you  as  consecrated  to  religion,  and 
as  a  representative  of  the  church,  which  a  hostile  gov- 
ernment wished  to  degrade  in  your  person,  then  the 
balance  is  entirely  in  your '  favor.  Thank  God  !  the 
O'Donnells  can  afford  a  martyr  to  their  country  or  lib- 
erty's cause,  as  the  annals  of  the  last  five  centuries  can 
show  ;  but  let  the  blood  of  laymen  be  spilt,  rather  than 
that  of  "  the  Lord's  anointed"  should  be  desecrated  by 
the  cruel  axe  of  the  heretical  Saxon." 

They  had  now  gained  considerably  on  the  mountain, 
engaged  in  such  dialogue  as  the  foregoing,  when  sud- 
denly a  blazing  fire  burned  on  the  left  peak  of  Knock- 
meldown,  and  as  it  spread  its  glare  around  on  the  bald 
summits  of  the  neighboring  heights,  clothing  them  in 
the  light  of  a  ghastly  and  unnatural  illumination,  the 
startled  eagle  deserted  her  nest  on  the  "  crag,"  flights 
of  grouse,  plover,  and  other  winged  inhabitants  of  the 
wilderness  filled  the  air  with  the  shrieks  and  confused 
flapping  of  their  wings  ;  while  the  fox,  the  hare,  and  the 
badger  deserted  their  wonted  beats,  and  sought  their 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  59 

covers,  or  took  to  flight  to  escape  this  sudden  exposure 
to  the  eyes  of  men,  of  their  nocturnal  occupations. 

Gradually  the  "  ullulu"  or  lamentations  of  the  peas- 
antry died  away,  as  their  attention  was  attracted  by  the 
"  bonfire"  on  the  "  Knock,"  and  those  who  were  in  the 
secret,  drew  conclusions  favorable  to  the  fate  of  their 
pastor,  from  the  fact  that  the  fire  was  on  the  "  left  head  " 
of  the  mountain,  instead  of  the  right,  as  they  expected. 
Many  a  fond  wife  and  loving  mother  were,  rejoiced,  and 
prayed  to  God  in  thanksgiving  when  they  went  to  the 
door,  and  observed  that  to-night  at  least,  there  was  no 
need  for  their  sons  or  husbands  to  attend  to  the  dan- 
gerous sendee  of  "  the  enchanted  warrior,"  as  Terry 
O'Mara  was  generally  called  by  those  who  were  initiated 
into  his  confederacy. 

"  Blood  an  age  !  what's  this  ?  "  said  Michael  O'Hal- 
peen  to  his  wife,  when  he  saw  the  signal  on  the  left. 
"  There,  we  are  tould  to  stay  in  t'night,  and  Father 
O'Donnell  to  be  hanged  t'morrow  at  four  o'clock  ! " 

"  0  yea  God  furbid  !  "  answered  Judy,  his  better 
half.  "  The  Lord  is  able  to  save  him  from  the  Sasse- 
naghs.  I'm  rale  glad  you  have  not  to  go  this  night  wid 
your  pike,  for  I'm  afeered  you  id  never  come  back." 

"  The  divil  skin  me  if  that  omadawn  ov  a  captain 
isn't  a  coward,  and  got  afeered  to  summon  the  min  to 
the  rescue.  0  wirra  !  isn't  it  a  pity  I  wasn't  captain 
meeself.  How  I'd  soon  have  that  barrick  below  in  ashes, 
and  the  priest  free." 


60  THE      PROPHET      OF 

"  You  vud,  I  nagh,"  said  his  wife,  mocking  him. 
"  Don't  you  know  there  is  the  sintries  guarding  the 
gate  ?  " 

"  What  would  I  care  ahout  the  sintry,  or  a  dozen 
such  '  Lurhedawns,'  while  I  had  this  '  queen  of  way- 
pons,'  my  own  harodittory  pike,  to  run  the  '  Keolawns' 
through  the  heart  ?  " 

"  Begor,"  said  the  wife,  who  knew  her  Mihaul  to  be 
an  arrant  coward,  who  once  ran  a  mile  from  a  Galway 
woman  with  a  red  cloak,  mistaking  her  for  a  "  red  sol- 
dier,"— "  Begor,  I'm  afeered  King  Garge  is  beat  entirely 
now.  What'll  he  do  at  all,  whin  the  brave  Mihaul 
O'Halpeen,  who  ran  away  from  the  Connaught  red  cloak, 
is  up  wid  his  pike  ?  " 

" '  Skirrawnurth ! '  you  'onshugh/  is  id  making  game 
of  me  you  are  ?  "  said  Mihaul,  pretending  to  be  serious. 

"  Faith  thin  it  isn't,  but  tilling  the  thruth.  Didn't 
you  near  brake  your  shins  runnin'  across  gardens  and 
hedges,  and  bog-holes,  last  harvist,  when  you  saw  a 
Connaught  woman's  red  cloak  comin'  up  the  hollow  ? 
And  now  you'd  rescue  Father  O'Donnell,  guarded  by 
an  army  of  rale  soldiers  !  '  0  Dieu  le  cour  cuin  '  ('  God 
help  us ')." 

"  Won't  you  whist  your  tongue,  you  'shrile,'"  said  he. 
"  Shure  it  isn't  meeself  alone  woud  do  it,  but  others  like 


me." 


"  Yarrou,  hould  your  tongue,  man.     Leave  the  priest. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  61 

to  himself  and  God,  and  you'll  see  they  can't  hurt  him. 
Isn't  God  stronger  than  the  devil  any  day  ?  " 

"  I  know  that,"  said  Mihaul ;  "  hut  God  wants  help. 
Do  you  see  how  God  allowed  Sts.  Peter  and  Paul  to  he 
put  to  death,  and  warn't  they  great  and  holy  ?  Yet  if 
there  wur  any  dacent  hoys  in  Kome  thin,  they  wouldn't 
have  allowed  the  pagans  to  put  the  blessed  Apostles  to 
death.  I  wish  I  wur  there,  with  this  ould  pike  !  How 
I'd  stretch  the  '  Paugawnaghs,'  "  (Pagans). 

"Faith,  maybe  if  you  wur  there,  'tis  to  run  you 
would,  like  you  ran  from  the  red  cloak  of  the  Galway 
woman." 

" '  Thonum  a  Dieu  na  Grausth  ;  you '  Kieraitge,' "  said 
he,  pretending  great  anger.  "  If  you  ewer  agin  spake  of 
that  red  cloak,  I  will  catch  you  by  this  cooleen  and  fling 
you  over  the  house." 

The  truth  is,  Mihaul  was  only  about  a  month  mar- 
ried, and  his  young  wife  was  greatly  alarmed  at  the  idea 
of  his  being  one  of  those  who  had  resolved  to  rescue 
Father  O'Donnell ;  and  upon  learning  from  the  signal 
on  the  mountain  that  the  idea  was  abandoned,  and  know- 
ing well  that  her  husband  secretly  rejoiced  that  the 
expedition  was  not  likely  to  be  persevered  in,  she  began 
to  twit  him  on  his  bravery  and  boasted  courage.  'He 
was  no  less  rejoiced  than  she,  however,  and  it  is  unneces- 
sary to  say  that  there  was  infinitely  more  happiness  in 
Mihaul  O'Halpeen's  house  that  night  than  if,  instead  of 


62  THE      PROPHET      OF 

pleasant  bantering  with  his  wife,  he  should  be  found  in 
the  train  of  the  '"'enchanted  warrior"  with  his  "  haro- 
dittory  ould  pike." 

Our  fugitives  were  now  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  "  gap/'  or  highest  elevation  of  the  road,  when  a 
stentorian  voice  of  one  whose  head  alone  appeared  above 
a  rock,  cried  out  to  them  in  rapid  utterance — 

"  Who  goes  there  ?  qui  va  la  ?    '  che  ha  shin  ? ' " 

"  Dinne  mintera,"  "  friendly  folks,"  answered  Father 
O'Donnell,  in  that  grave  mellow  voice  which  belonged 
to  him,  and  which  was  well  understood  by  his  interrogator, 
the  "  enchanted  warrior." 

"  0  Lord  be  praised,  Father  Senan,"  cried  O'Mara, 
sinking  on  his  knees.  "  God  is  stronger  than  Satan. 
Give  me  your  blessing,  sir." 

"  God  bless  you,  Terry,"  said  the  priest,  "  and  may 
He  give  you  grace  to  mend  your  ways,  and  renounce 
your  present  life  of  danger  and  sin." 

"  Sin  ?  "  said  the  peasant,  by  way  of  remonstrance, 
"  I  do  not  think  it  is  a  sin  to  shoot  and  eat  the  game 
that  is  fed  by  the  produce  of  my  own  farm,  for  which  I 
pay  ;  nor  do  I  think  it  a  sin  to  try  to  save  your  Rever- 
ence from  the  Saxon  gibbet,  when  I  know  you  were  in- 
nocent of  any  crime,  and  only  sacrificed  in  hatred  of 
religion." 

"  Excuse  me,  Terry,"  said  the  priest ;  "  I  only  meant 
that  you  exposed  yourself  and  family  by  disregarding  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  6 


«-» 


game-laws,  and  that  your  having  any  thing  to  do  with 
the  '  United  Irish  Society '  would  in  the  end  lead  you 
and  others  into  trouble  and  sin.  I  did  not  mean  to  say 
you  are  an  outlaw,  or  that  you  have  been  guilty  of  any 
great  crime  against  society,  though  your  escapes  from 
the  gamekeepers  and  yeomen  have  procured  you  the 
formidable  name  of  '  Enchanted  Warrior.'  " 

"  There  it  is  again,  Eeverend  sir,  preaching  in  favor 
of  British  laws,  and  your  head  not  yet  well  free  from  the 
gallows,  to  which  those  laws  condemned  you  Unjustly. 
My  sword  and  belt,  Father  Senan,  but  for  your  preach- 
ing, and  that  of  such  as  you,  there  would  not  be  one 
shoneen  one  of  the  British  garrison  left  now  in  all  Tip- 
perary,  aye,  in  troth,  they  would  have  long  since  got' 
a  '  free  passage '  to  the  lower  countries.  When  will  ye 
priests  let  us  have  our  own  way  ?.  But  what  is  become 
of  Captain  O'Donnell  ?  " 

"  The  Captain,  Terry,  is  in  the  same  danger  that  I 
was  in.     In  fact,  he  took  my  place  in  the  prison  cell." 

"  Begor,  he  wont  be  long  there.  Oh  murther,  mur- 
ther  !  why  did  I  kindle  the  left  fire  on  yonder  peak  ?  I 
must  be  off  at  once  and  quench  it,  and  set  fire  to  the 
right  turfstack,  and  perhaps  a  part  of  the  men  may  come." 

"  Wait,  wait,  you  need  not  stir,"  said  the  farmer, 
Thomas  O'Donnell,  recalling  O'Mara,  who  was  just  going 
off.  "  The  Captain  is  safe,  having  in  his  pocket  his  com- 
mission as  officer   in   the   '  Chasseurs  de  Vincennes/  to- 


64  THE     PKOPHET      OP 

gether  with  the  French  monarch's  autograph.  He  is 
safe,  Terry.  He  sent  you  word  by  me  to  keep  quiet. 
They  dare  not  touch  a  hair  of  his  head." 

"  But  what  if  ye  are  pursued  ?  "  interrogated  the 
cunning  peasant. 

"  Oh,  there  is  not  much  danger  of  that  till  we  are 
far  out  of  their  reach.  Farewell,  Terry,"  said  both  as, 
they  put  spurs  to  their  steeds  and  departed. 

"  Farewell,  and  a  safe  journey,"  answered  Terry.  "  Be 
cautious ;  the  road  is  somewhat  rough  from  the  late 
rains,  and  steep  in  some  places." 

Teny  remained  where  he  was  for  a  few  minutes,  de- 
liberating with  himself  what  to  do,  when  to  his  aston- 
ishment, his  ear  caught  the  violent  breathing  and 
smothered  cough  of  somebody  coming  towards  where  he 
stood.  The  figure  was  that  of  a  man  in  his  shirt-sleeves, 
without  a  coat  and  without  a  hat.  Upon  being  asked 
who  was  that,  the  panting  and  jaded  messenger  cried  in 
a  voice  half  smothered  by  his  heavy  breathing,  "  Blood- 
hounds," "Maderee  aultha,"  "fly,"  "fly,"  "pursuit," 
"  dragoons,"  "  dragoons, — on  chase."  Terry  found  that 
this  was  no  other  than  "  Darby  Anglum,"  the  fool 
of  Lord  Barterborough,  who  no  sooner  heard  it  whis- 
pered at  the  Great-House,  that  the  flight  of  the  priest 
was  discovered,  than  he  ran  off  to  acquaint  the  "  en- 
chanted warrior  "  that  the  pursuit  was  on  foot.  Poor, 
faithful  and  loyal  creature*,  the  express  had  nearly  cost 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  65 

him  his  life,  as  shall  be  shown  hereafter.  It  appeared 
that  the  prisoner  was  gone  no  more  than  an  hour,  when 
about  eight  o'clock,  the  chaplain  of  the  prison,  by  way, 
I  suppose,  of  sharpening  his  appetite  for  a  grand  sup- 
per, to  which  he  was  that  night  invited  by  the  Lord 
Bart erboro ugh,  came  into  the  cell  to  see  if  he  could  not 
convert  the  convicted  Popish  priest  from  the  errors  of 
Eome,  as  he  called  them,  "to  those  of  Church  of  Eng- 
land Protestantism." 

"  If  you  only  want  to  convert  me  from  one  set  of 
errors  to  another,"  said  the  Captain,  catching  at  the 
chaplain's  blunder,  "  I  would  as  lief  keep  to  the  errors  I 
have,  as  exchange  them  for  a  newer,  and  perhaps  not 
a  better,  suit  of  errors." 

"  Oh,  sir,  I  only  meant  from  the  errors  of  Kome  to 
the  pure  doctrines  of  our  Church  by  '  law  established.'  " 
The  Captain,  personating  as  well  as  he  could  the  char- 
acter of  the  priest,  again  declined  the  services  of  the 
hired  chaplain.  But  the  zealous  functionary  of  the  Es- 
tablishment would  attend  to  no  protests  nor  regard  any 
remonstrances  from  him  whom  he  wished  to  convert, 
whether  he  was  willing  or  not  ;  whereupon  the  Captain's 
patience  failed  him,  and  getting  up  from  his  iron  bed, 
on  which  he  reclined,  he  kicked  the  chaplain  out  of 
doors.  The  cries  of  the  poor  church  official  in  distress, 
brought  the  head  jailer  to  the  spot,  who,  upon  closer  ex- 
amination, found,  to  his  consternation,  that  instead  of 


66  THE      PROPHET      OF 

the  priest,  he  held  a  Captain.  He  burst  forth  into  a 
pitiful  cry,  that  alarmed  the  soldiers  on  guard,  who 
rushed  to  the  spot  to  see  what  was  the  matter,  and  who 
on  arriving  at  the  cell  door,  picked  up  the  Governor,  as 
he  was  called,  lifeless  apparently,  from  the  floor.  The 
first  impression  of  the  bystanders  was,  that  he  was 
poinarded  by  the  prisoner  ;  but  after  the  application 
of  some  restoratives  and  remedies,  he  recovered  himself, 
and  they  found  that  he  had  lost  his  senses  at  the  pros- 
pect of  losing  his  situation,  on  account  of  allowing  his 
victim  to  escape  ! 

The  chief  military  officer,  a  Colonel  Clive,  was 
apprised  of  the  disaster  of  the  priest's  escape  ;  and  a 
council  of  war  being  called,  the  Captain,  heavily 
ironed,  was  ushered  into  their  presence  under  a  strong 
military  escort.  He  at  once  acknowledged  his  part 
in  the  stratagem  for  the  release  of  his  brother,  asked 
liberty  to  exhibit  his  military  commission  in  the 
"  Chasseurs  de  Vincennes,"  in  the  service  of  the  French 
monarch,  and  upon  receiving  permission,  by  having  the 
shackles  taken  from  his  hands,  he  produced  the  paper, 
which  the  commanding  officer  read,  and  holding  up  his 
hands  again  to  his  guards,  he  said,  "  You  may  bind  me  in 
as  many  irons  as  you  please,  but  as  a  French  officer,  I  pro- 
test against  being  treated  as  a  criminal/'  His  spirited 
manner  and  the  candor  of  his  confession,  as  well  as  his 
devotion  to  a  beloved  brother,  gained  the  respect,  if  not 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  67 

admiration,  of  the  cold  English  commander  ;  and  though 
he  was  ordered  back  to  prison,  the  rigors  of  his  captivity 
were  greatly  mitigated  by  order  of  the  Colonel.  The 
next  thing  that  engaged  the  attention  of  these  officials, 
was  the  recapture  of  the  prisoner  escaped,  and  uj)on  a 
muster  being  called,  and  the  drum  beaten,  three  out  of 
the  five  hundred  dragoons  of  the  town  were  despatched 
in  parties  of  from  twenty-five  to  sixty,  in  pursuit  of  the 
fugitive.  It  was  when  the  commanding  officer  was  sent 
for  to  Lord  Barterborough's,  where  he  had  just  only  ar- 
rived a  few  minutes  before,  to  be  present  at  the  supper 
of  this  aristocratic  Anglo-Saxon,  that  the  idiot  Anglum 
heard  of  the  intended  pursuit  of  the  priest  ;  and  as  he 
had  only  lately  passed  the  priest  on  his  way  towards  the 
mountain,  the  poor  simpleton,  with  that  fidelity  peculiar 
to  this  class  of  creatures,  ran  back  to  where  he  had  met 
him,  in  hopes  to  overtake  him,  or  to  meet  somebody  to 
whom  he  could  communicate  the  burden  of  his  secret, 
so  as  to  render  it  available  for  the  safety  of  Father 
O'Donnell.  And  it  was  providential  that  Anglum  did 
meet  the  priest  soon  after  he  quitted  the  town  of  Clough- 
more,  and  well  that  Iris  curiosity  enabled  him  to  come 
at  the  message  of  the  flying  express  who  brought  the  in- 
telligence to  Colonel  Clive  at  the  Lord's  house,  as  other- 
wise the  prisoner  would  have  been  undoubtedly  retaken, 
and  all  the  exertions  and  prayers  and  anxiety  of  the 
Captain  rendered  of  no  avail,  as  shall  appear  from  the 
sequel. 


68  THE      PROPHET      OF 


CHAPTER    V. 

"the    enchanted    wakkior.': 

Soon  after  the  cry  of  "  Maderee  aiiltha "  reached  Ter- 
ence O'Mara's  ears  through  the  exertions  of  his  now  only 
aid,  Anglum,  he  resolved  to  retard,  if  not  to  defeat,  the 
pursuit.  "Oh,  heavens!"  he  exclaimed,  "why  did  I 
kindle  that  unlucky  fire  on  the  left,  and  thus  deprive 
myself  of  the  co-operation  of  my  faithful  followers  !  It 
can't  be  helped." 

"  Darby,"  he  said,  addressing  the  simpleton,  "  we 
must  make  the  best  we  can  of  a  bad  bargain." 

"  That's  thrue,"  said  Darby  ;  "  it's  a  bad  bargain,  if 
my  good  father  is  caught.  Bad,  bad,  bad  !  But,  Mr. 
Terry,  won't  we  kill  the  red-coats  !  Shoot  'em.  I  like 
red  '  coat-a-more.'     Yes,  bad  bargain,  bad  bargain  !  " 

"Listen,  Darby,"  said  O'Mara,  "can  you  make  a 
fire?" 

"Yes,  yes,"  answered  he,  "can  make  fire.  Make 
fire  at  Lor'  Bad  butter." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  69 

"  Come,  then,  and  help  me." 

Oft'  they  went  to  about  the  one  sixth  of  a  mile  up 
the  road,  where  there  was  a  quantity  of  turf  or  peat 
made  into  ricks  and  stacks.     By  the  aid  of  the  idiot,  in 
a  few  minutes  O'Mara  had  a  large  pile  of  the  dry  turf 
placed  on  the  very  centre  of  the  road,  and  having  set 
fire  to  it,    he    placed   in   front  and   around   it,  many 
"grogawns,"  or  tall  piles  of  the  turf,  which  at  a  dis- 
tance very  much  resembled  men  in  appearance.     This 
done,  O'Mara  flew  to  his  cave  for  his  rifle,  his  brass  bu- 
gle, his  helmet,  and  a  polished  steel  corselet,  or  small 
cuirass,  which  one  of  his  ancestors  wore  when  in  foreign 
service.      He  procured  also  a  great  torch  of  chips  of 
"  fat  pine,"  or  "  bog  deal,"  and  thus  equipped,  he  took 
his  stand  behind  the  great  rock  called  "  Clogh-na-gour," 
which  commanded  the  road  which  the  pursuers,  if  about 
to  come,  must  take.     The  clatter  of  horses'  hoofs  against 
the   well-gravelled   road  was  now  distinctly  heard,  and 
O'Mara  ran  forward  a  second  time  to  give  some  new 
order  to  Anglum,  whose  mind,  though  a  very  retentive 
one,  was  able  to  grasp  but  one  idea  at  a  time.     The 
light  of  the  fire  now  reflected  on  the  polished  helmets 
of  the  cavalry,  and  its  reflection  on  the  sides  of  the 
mountain-ridges,  revealed  to  them  with  a  dismal  effect, 
the  dreariness  of  the  scene,  and  filled  their  imaginations 
with  fears,  that  in  these  dark  caverns,  which  the  un- 
illumined  parts  of  the  mountains  appeared  to  be,  there 


70  THE      PROPHET      OF 

might  be  secreted  men  in  ambush,  against  whom,  in 
such  ground  as  this  was,  their  horses  could  do  but  little. 
The  troop  now  slackened  their  pace  into  a  more  cautious 
gait,  and  the  advance-guard  returned  to  the  main  body 
to  report  that  a  large  body  of  rebels  were  on  the  moun- 
tain brow,  shouting  like  Indians,  and  dancing  around  a 
great  fire.  At  the  communication  of  this  'intelligence 
the  sound  of  a  bugle  was  heard,  reverberating  in  a  thou- 
sand repeated  echoes  along  the  mountain-sides,  and 
glens,  and  ridges,  and  peaks,  and  the  troop  having  given 
"three  cheers  for  the  king,"  advanced  cautiously.  In 
front  of  the  large  rock  above  mentioned,  now  appeared, 
standing  in  bold  relief,  by  the  glare  of  the  fire,  a  man 
clothed  in  shining  armor,  and  burnished  helmet,  who, 
on  the  approach  of  the  troop,  cried  out,  "Who  goes 
there  ? "  A  voice  hoarse  from  fear  answered,  "  The 
King's  troop  of -Fourth  Dragoons." 

"  Halt,  under  pain  of  death  ! "  cried  Terry.  "  I  am 
the  genius  of  this  place.  These  mountains  are  my 
abode,  and  I  will  allow  no  invasion  of  my  domains  at 
this  hour  of  night.  They  call  me  the  ''Enchanted 
Warrior.'  My  men  are  perched  by  every  rock,  and  hid 
under  every  bush.  Look  at  yonder  fire,  around  which 
one  hundred  men,  warriors  all  clad  in  mail  as  I,  keep 
guard.     Advance,  if  you  dare." 

There  are  whispers  and  confusion  among  the  men. 

"  Listen  again,"  resumed  the  warrior.     "  To  show 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  71 

you  I  am  what  I  represent  myself  to  be,  here  I  stand. 
Let  any  five  men  of  you  dismount,  or  from  where  you 
sit,  discharge  your  pieces  against  this  breast ;  and  if  you 
find  your  leaden  messengers  have  no  power  to  hurt  me, 
then  confess  I  am  the  enchanted  warrior.  But  if  I  send 
my  messengers  of  death  after  you,  then  woe  betide  you  ! 
What  say  you  ?     AY  ill  you  try  it  ?" 

"  Yes.     Stand  forward,  five  guards,"  said  the  leader. 
"  Steady  !  present  !  fire  !  " 

A  loud  laugh  from  the  warrior  followed  this  dis- 
charge. The  second  guard  presents  and  fires.  The 
same  effect  follows. 

"  Go  on — try  it  again,"  cried  the  intrepid  warrior. 

A  third  discharge  followed,  and  the  bullet  was  flat- 
tened against  the  rock  about  a  yard  from  his  body. 

"  Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  "  cries  the  warrior.  "  Here  are 
your  leaden  bullets  for  you  again.  There  is  one  that 
has  actually  passed  through  my  body  !  Let  me  now 
try  my  luck." 

Click  !  went  the  rifle  of  the  warrior,  and  the  ser- 
geant and  a  private  fell  dead  from  their  horses. 

"  Now,  men,  come  to  victory  !  "  he  cried,  pulling  a 
rope  or  cord  to  which  was  attached  the  blazing  torch  of 
pine  chips,  and  flinging  it  towards  the  dragoons,  he 
leaped  down  on  the  road.  As  quick  as  lightning  the 
whole  troop  of  sixty  horses  turned  round,  and  without 
as  much  as  waiting  for  the  word  of  command,  made  the 


72  THE      PROPHET      OF 

best  of  their  way  back  to  the  town.  The  heath  now  on 
the  mountain-side  took  fire,  and  the  crackling  with 
which  that  beautiful  shrub  burns,  together  with  the 
screaming  of  night-birds,  and  the  loud  noise  of  flocks  of 
game,  resembling  very  much  the  report  of  musketry, 
created  in  the  minds  of  these  royal  troops  sensations 
akin  to  those  of  men  flying  from  a  city  on  fire,  and 
they  never  looked  back  till  they  were  all  safely  in- 
trenched within  the  walls  of  Cloughmore  barracks.  Upon 
the  troop  being  in  line  and  the  roll  called,  it  was  found 
that  two  men  were  wanting,  whom  the  Lieutenant  re- 
ported as  having  fallen  at  the  action  at  the  mountain, 
where,  as  he  stated,  no  fewer  than  three  thousand  men 
were  assembled  in  rebellion,  commanded  by  experienced 
French  and  foreign  officers.  The  same  gentleman  gave 
it  also  as  his  opinion  that  nothing  less  than  the  capture 
of  the  town  was  intended,  as  he  could  hear  the  voices  of 
men  and  the  report  of  their  small  arms  till  he  came 
very  near  the  town.  In  evidence  of  the  correctness  of 
what  he  stated,  he  pointed  out  the  blaze  into  which  the 
northern  side  of  the  town  was  converted  by  the  enemy. 
He  exaggerated  the  dangers  of  sending  so  few  men  to 
rout  such  a  formidable  force,  not  forgetting  to  point  out 
the  advantageous  positions  of  the  enemy,  who,  he  said, 
planted  behind  rock,  and  from- behind  the  ricks  of  turf, 
took  such  deliberate  aim  "  at  our  men,  that  it  is  miracu- 
lous how  we  escaped  with  such  trifling  loss — two  killed 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  73 

only,  and  only  a  few  slightly  wounded."  On  being  ques- 
tioned as  to  why  the  Lieutenant  did  not  in  the  retreat 
recover  the  bodies  of  the  two  who  had  fallen,  he  stated, 
that  in  attemping  to  do  so,  the  whole  body  of  rebels 
rushed  down  on  the  road  to  cut  off  their  retreat,  that 
the  horses  became  restive  on  hearing  the  yells  of  the 
rebels,  who  flung  lighted  brands  on  the  road  to  frighten 
them.  He  could  not  say  whether  many  of  the  foe  had 
fallen,  but  he  was  certain  there  must  be  many  of  them 
wounded,  from  the  deliberate  aim  which  the  lights  and 
fires  of  the  enemy  enabled  his  own  men  to  take.  This 
mendacious  report  having  been  received  by  the  Colonel, 
the  "  big  drum "  was  beaten,  and  the  whole  military 
force  of  the  town,  including  the  yeomanry,  was  called  to 
arms.  Picket  guards  were  appointed  at  the  cross-roads, 
a  cordon  of  sentinels  on  that  side  of  the  town  next  the 
mountain,  and  every  order  given  and  precaution  taken 
that  the  military  tactics  of  that  period  demanded.  The 
Colonel,  in  the  mean  time,  with  the  advice  of  his  council, 
thought  it  prudent  to  communicate  the  report  of  Lieu- 
tenant Scarecrow  to  the  Castle  of  Dublin  by  express, 
with  a  desire  that  a  detachment  of  light  artillery  should 
be  sent  immediately,  to  subdue  this  powerful  and  seem- 
ingly formidable  host!  "The  enchanted  warrior,"  in 
the  mean  time,  in  company  with  his  useful  fool,  returned 
home,  to  snatch  a  fuw  hours'  repose,  well  satisfied  that 
the  fugitive  was  safe  now,  and  that  at  all  events,  there 

4 


74  THE      PROPHET      OF 

would  be  no  more  hostile  visits  to  his  mountain,  for  this 
night  at  least.  Thus,  by  the  skilful  stratagem  of  a 
man,  the  best  military  plans  may  be  defeated,  and  the 
securest  designs  of  tyrants  may  be  frustrated  by  the 
bravery  of  a  peasant. 

When  Terence  O'Mara  returned  home,  at  the  hour 
of  one  o'clock  at  night,  he  found  a  good  warm  supper 
ready  for  him  at  the  fireside,  simmering  in  the  skillet  ; 
and,  contrary  to  custom,  he  found  his  fair  wife  and  eldest 
child  at  the  bed-side,  repeating  the  rosary  aloud,  and 
with  tears  in  their  eyes. 

"  In  the  name  of  God,  what  keeps  ye  up  so  late  ?  " 
said  Terry,  lighting  a  "  slishogue,"  or  chip  pine  of  bog- 
wood,  and  going  into  his  bed-room. 

"  Ah  !  it  is  we  ought  to  ask  you  what  keeps  you  up, 
and  what  keeps  you  out  so  late  as  this  ?"  she  cried, 
with  a  look  that  betrayed  the  agitation  of  her  soul. 

"  Hold,  woman,"  answered  Teriy.  "  I  have  good 
news  to  tell  you.     Father  O'Donnell  is  escaped." 

"  Thanks  be  to  God  !  "  said  the  pious  matron.  "  I 
always  thought  the  Lord  would  never  allow  his  enemies 
power  over  that  saintly  man." 

"  What  in  the  world  ails  you,  though  ?  "  he  resumed. 
"  Something  must  be  wrong.  Has  any  thing  happened 
since  I  left — are  my  children  well  ?  "  Tell  me  what  ails 
you,  dear  wife,"  he  continued,  raising  her  up  in  his  arms, 
and  looking  into  her  face. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  75 

"  Well,  it's  nothing  but  a  dhreame  that  I  had — the 
Lord  save  us  ! — wlien  I  saw  you  shot  down,  and  me  and 
my  dear  children  massacred  by  the  yeomen." 

"  Well,  what  else  ?  " 

"  That  was  all,  Terry  asthore  ;  but  it  was  so  clear  a 
dhreame,  and  so  bright  before  my  mind,  that  I  actually 
saw  the  men's  faces  who  did  it,  I  thought,  and  could 
know  them  if  I  saw  them  now.  Then  I  roused  up  little 
Bridget  and  Michael — Timothy  was  too  young — and  we 
said  our  prayers  to  God  to  save  you  and  us  from  what  I 


saw." 


"  TS7 


Well,  Nelly,  I  thought  you  had  some  sense  before 
now,"  answered  the  intrepid  Terry.  "  Don't  you  know 
the  church  and  the  priest  tell  you  not  to  believe  in 
dreams,  nor  credit  them,  and  you  put  your  mind  '  through 
and  fro  '  with  such  phantoms  ?  " 

"I  know  that  well,"  she  calmly  answered,  "and  I 
know  the  church  and  the  priest  both  tould  you  to  keep 
from  night-walking  and  secret  societies,  and  yet  you  see 
you  are  not  doing  their  bidding." 

"  That  may  be  true  enough,  Nelly,  my  dear.  But 
see  what  a  country  we  have  !  Overrun  with  cut-throats, 
perjurers,  and  tyrants,  all  of  foreign  birth  or  race,  while 
we  the  natives,  the  descendants  of  princes,  and  lawful 
heirs  of  all  this  island  produces,  are  aliens  in  our  native 
land,  serfs,  without  right  to  any  thing,  not  even  to  live, 
unless  it  be  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  our  lords  and 


76  THE      PROPHET      OF 

masters.  Would  you  blame  me  for  plotting  to  free  the 
country  from  the  cursed  sway  of  England  and  her  Irish 
traitorous  auxiliaries  ?" 

"  Of  course  not,  if  it  wasn't  a  sin,  or  if  you  did  not 
run  the  risk  of  your  life." 

"  Oh  !  I  must  not  mind  that.  God  gave  it,  and  he 
can  take  it  again  ;  and  if  my  country  ask  it,  here  it  is, 
with  a  '  Cead  mille  faulte.'  Is  not  Michael  there  to 
succeed  me,  and  serve  his  mother,  should  his  father  fill  a 
patriot's  grave  ?  And  if  Michael  falls,  have  you  not 
little  Tim  to  succeed  him,  and  to  fight  for  fatherland 
and  against  John  Bull  ?  And  please  God,  ere  I  am 
called  off — you  know  I  am  '  enchanted '  according  to  the 
yeomen — we  will  have  another  little  fellow  or  two,  per- 
haps, to  make  up  a  full  number  of  defenders." 

"  D'e  hear  how  you  talk  opposite  the  youngsters  ?  " 
she  said,  smiling.  "  '  Is  tint  heal  gon  stJwe,'  your  mouth 
is  one  of  no  discretion." 

The  contents  of  the  warm  skillet,  and  they  were  not 
to  be  despised,  were  soon  made  away  with  by  the  "  en- 
chanted warrior  "  and  his  aide-de-camp,  Darby  Anglum, 
and  the)-  retired,  the  one  to  the  settle-bed,  and  the  other 
to  his  sleeping-chamber,  to  rest  after  the  campaign  of 
the  past  clay. 

/ 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  77 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE  COUNSELS  OF  THE  GREAT. 

Now,  Tuesday,  the  day  appointed  for  the  execution, 
dawned  ;  but  the  victim  whom  the  gallows  claimed  by 
British  law,  had  escaped  its  fangs.  What  was  to  be 
now  done  ?  This  was  the  leading  head  of  deliberation 
among  the  civil  and  military  council  sitting  at  Clough- 
more  this  eventful  morning.  Shall  the  gallows  be  de- 
frauded of  its  usual  tribute  ?  Shall  there  be  prepara- 
tion for  an  execution,  and  no  execution  take  place  ? 
Somebody  ought  to  be  hanged  in  order  to  strike  salu- 
tary terror  into  the  rebellious  peasantry. 

Lord  Barterborough  was  present  as  president  of  the 
council.  So  was  Sir  Anthony  Sharper,  the  patron  of  the 
town,  and  Sheriff  Juggler.  A.  B.  Westrop,  J.  P.,  and 
Colonel  Clive,  with  Lieutenant  Scarecrow,  completed  the 
number.  It  was  not  yet  clear  daylight,  and  the  council 
bad  sat  for  several  hours.  Witnesses  Avere  called  from 
among  the  officials  of  the  prison,  who  generally  swore 


78  THE      PROPHET      OF 

that  the  present  prisoner  was  the  priest,  and  that  the 
man  who  left  yesterday  was  the  same  who  entered,  and 
nobody  else.  The  very  guard  who  watched  at  the  cell 
door,  whom  we  have  before  introduced  as  putting  back 
the  clock,  swore  positively  he  kept  his  eye  continually  on 
the  prisoner,  and  that  he  could  not  have  escaped  or 
changed  dress  without  his  seeing  it. 

"  Are  you  positive  that  the  prisoner  is  the  same  who 
was  tried  at  the  last  term  of  assize  in  this  town,  and 
capitally  convicted  ?  "  said  Sheriff  Juggler. 

"  Yez,  'e  his,"  emphatically  enunciated  the  British 
boor. 

"  My  opinion  is,"  resumed  the  Sheriff,  "  that  we  had 
better  execute  this  present  prisoner,  as  we  have  adver- 
tised an  execution.  It  does  not  appear  to  me  in  evi- 
dence that  this  is  not  the  priest  who  was  sentenced  to 
death  by  my  Lord  Toler.  At  any  rate,  there  appears  to 
be  a  doubt,  and  as  there  is  a  doubt,  we  ought  to  make 
sure  of  our  man,  and  have  the  execution  for  the  public 
good.  What  think  you,  gentlemen  ?  "  he  said,  looking 
around,  for  the  approbation  of  his  associates. 

"  I,  for  von,  second  your  motion,  Sheriff,"  said  Sir 
Anthony  Sharper. 

"I  likewise,"  chimed  in  A.  B.  Westrop.  "We 
ought  to  make  an  example,  and  whether  or  not  this  is 
the  person  we — the  law,  I  mean — condemned,  matters 
not  much  if  he  is  guilty,  or  not  loyal  to  the  crown." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  79 

"  Hear,  hear  ! "  followed  this  speech  of  the  Crom- 
wellian. 

"  You,  Mr.  Sheriff,  and  Sir  Anthony,  ought  to  be 
the  best  evidences  in  this  puzzling  affair.  You  both 
live  in  this  very  town.  Surely  you  must  have  known 
the  priest  O'Donnell,  and  you  ought  to  be  able  to  say 
whether  the  prisoner  is  the  identical  individual,"  said 
my  Lord  Barterborough. 

"  As  for  me,"  said  the  Sheriff,  "  I  knew  him  by 
sight,  that's  all ;  but  I  go  according  to  evidence  of  the 
turnkey's,  who  swore  positively  that  this  is  he.  I  know 
nothing  as  a  private  individual.  My  ca-capacity  as 
sh-sheriff  raises  me  above  priv-private  rights  or  feelings." 

His  Lordship  smiled  and  looked  towards  the  Colonel, 
who  never  opened  his  lips  during  the  examination  of  the 
worthy  witnesses.  There  was  really  great  danger  of  the 
Captain  at  this  juncture,  who,  on  attempting  to  prove 
himself  what  he  was,  had  a  pistol  of  one  of  the  guards 
presented  at  his  breast,  with  a  threat  if  he  "  spoke  one 
word "  that  he  should  die  instantly.  Colonel  Clive  at 
length  broke  silence,  and  said,  that  notwithstanding  the 
apparently  consistent  testimony  of  the  jailers,  he  had  a 
strong  doubt  as  to  the  identity  of  the  present  prisoner 
with  the  one  lately  convicted,  and  "  I  am  sorry  to  differ 
with  his  honor  the  Sheriff,"  he  said,  "in  his  construction 
of  that  portion  of  British  common  law  regarding  '  the 
doubt,'  which  should  be  always  interpreted  in  favor  of  a 
prisoner,  instead  of  against  him.    Indeed,  there  is  hardly 


80  THE      PROPHET      Ul' 

a  doubt  in  the  case,  as  it  is  almost  self-evident  that  the 
present  gentleman  is  not  the  same  whom  I  saw  in  the 
dock  at  the  late  assizes.  It  is  better  that  a  thousand 
guilty  men  should  escape,  than  that  one  innocent  man 
should  suffer  death  unjustly." 

"  That  is,  provided  the  innocent  man  was  not  as  de- 
serving of  a  gallows  as  the  guilty,"  rejoined  Sir  Anthony 
seriously,  shaking  his  head  and  looking  towards  the 
prisoner.  The  whole  council  enjoyed  a  laugh  of  very 
limited  duration  at  the  expense  of  the  knight  of  the  red 
nose,  and  the  Colonel  having  ordered  the  prisoner  back 
to  his  cell,  the  council  turned  its  attention  to  other  im- 
portant deliberations.  Mrs.  O'Donnell  and  the  remain- 
der of  the  family  who  made  the  visit  to  the  prison  the 
day  before,  were  next  introduced  into  the  Council  Hall, 
but,  being  asked  to  give  their  evidence  they  refused,  ex- 
cusing themselves  on  the  grounds  of  their  relationship 
with  the  party  accused  as  well  as  the  escaped  prisoner. 
They  were  consequently  locked  up  in  jail  for  contempt 
of  court,  as  well  as  for  being  aiders  and  abettors  in  the 
escape  of  the  priest.  Colonel  Clive  was  opposed  to  this 
rigor  also,  but  the  remaining  members  of  the  council, 
including  Lord  Barterborough,  being  adverse  to  him,  he 
had  to  succumb.  The  question  of  a  substitute  for  the 
escaped  priest  was  still  on  the  board,  and  Sir  Anthony 
moved  again  that,  as  this  foreign  gentleman  bore  such  a 
likeness  to  the  priest,  he  should  suffer  in  his  stead. 

"  Why,  Sir  Anthony,"  said  the  Colonel,  somewhat 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  SI 

warmly,  "  that  is  now  decided.  This  course  you  recom- 
mend would  be  barbarous  as  well  as  unjust.  Besides,  it 
would  be  dangerous.  We  are  now  at  war  with  France, 
our  natural  enemy,  and  if  this  gentleman,  holding  such 
a  high  commission  in  the  celebrated  c  Chasseurs  de 
Vincennes,'  were  to  be  sacrificed  in  cold  blood  in  obe- 
dience to  a  low  instinct  of  vengeance,  or  to  '  strike  a 
salutary  terror'  as  it  is  called,  you  cannot  foresee  the 
consequences  to  the  whole  nation — nay,  the  whole  em- 
pire :  besides  the  injustice  of  your  course." 

"  I  do  not  care  about  consequences,  let  them  take 
care  of  themselves,"  said  Sir  Anthony.  "All  I  ask  is 
vengeance  on  rebels,  conspirators,  and  Papists.  And  as 
for  justice  " 

"  But,  Sir  Anthony,  I  do  care  for  consequences,  and 
if  that  gentleman  is  to  be  hanged,  he  must  be  hanged 
in  spite  of  my  troop.     That  I  beg  you  to  remember." 

"Well,  Colonel,"  said  the  Knight,  "I  yield  the 
point  ;  but  if  you  are  at  a  loss  for  somebody  to  hang, 
I  have  a  useless  old  butler  about  the  height  and  a  little 
above  the  age  of  priest  O'Donnell,  and  he  is  a  Papist 
besides,  though  a  simple  and  harmless  one.  You  may 
hang  him,  gentlemen,  if  you  please,  to  produce  the  de- 
sired effect." 

"  Good  God  !  what  do  you  say,  Sir  Anthony  ? 
Have  I  misunderstood  you  ?  Do  you  propose  the  mur- 
der of  an  old  and  faithful  servant  to  prop  up  a  false- 

4* 


82  THE      PROPHET      OF 

hood,  to  give  currency  to  a  delusion  ?  Monstrous  propo- 
sition ! " 

"  I  am  a  loyal  subject,  Mr.  Colonel,"  answered  Sir 
Knight,  "and  I  "will  do  any  thing  to  serve  my  king." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Sir  Anthony,  "  but  your  king,  I 
doubt,  would  reject  such  a  service  as  you  would  offer.  I 
am  convinced,  however,  his  majesty  would  accept  the 
sacrifice  of  your  own  life,  that  the  losing  of  your  head 
in  battle  for  the  king  would  be  a  very  meritorious  act, 
but  I  should  consider  that  the  hanging  of  your  faithful 
butler  would  not  be  regarded  by  his  majesty  as  any 
thing  like  a  compensation  for  the  honor  that  would  ac- 
crue to  him  by  the  loss  of  your  own  life  in  the  service 
of  your  king." 

"  My  life  is  at  his  service  any  clay  that  his  majesty's 
crown  may  need  its  sacrifice,"  said  the  chivalrous  Knight. 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  you  are  ready,  Sir  Anthony, 
for  we  are  just  going  to  dislodge  those  rebels  who  are, 
if  report  be  true,  intrenched  on  the  brow  of  Knockmel- 
down,  and  I  will  expect  to  see  you  there  at  the  head  of 
the  militia  of  the  barony." 

At  this  stage  of  the  proceeding  a  messenger  was  in- 
troduced by  an  orderly,  who  stated  that  on  his  way  from 
the  market  of  Dungarvan,  about  half  way  up  the  moun- 
tain road,  he  fell  in  writh  the  bodies  of  the  two  soldiers 
killed  in  the  encounter  last  night,  and  they  were  now  at 
the  "  gate  waiting  to  be  released  by  your  honors  paying  me 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  83 

for  the  fare  of  the  two  dead  jintlemin."  Upon  being 
informed  by  the  Sheriff  that  it  was  no  more  than  his 
duty,  as  a  loyal  subject  of  the  king,  to  do  that  piece  of 
service  for  nothing,  the  cunning  little  red-headed  car- 
man, named  "  Skith  Flanagan,"  answered,  "  that  as  fur 
lyilty  he  didn't  think  he  had  less  uv  it  than  his  neigh- 
bors ;  but  he  knew  he  had  but  very  little  money,  and  he 
didn't  think  their  honors  or  the  king  would  ask  him 
to  work  for  nothing,  or  spile  his  clothes  with  all  the  blud 
he  got  on  him  sthrivin'  to  lift  up  such  heavy  big  min  as 
the  two  dead  sogers."  "  Look,"  he  continued,  "  there 
is  mee  whine  span  new  frieze  '  half  coat/  worth  thirty 
shillins  at  any  rate,  full  uv  blud,  distroyed  intirely  all 
out  !  I'll  have  to  bum  it  whin  I  get  home  to  get  rid 
of  the  dirty  blood  of  the  infarnal  sassenaghs— -I  mean 
the  two  honorible  deed  sogers,  your  honors." 

Colonel  Clive  handed  the  cartman  a  guinea,  who 
with  the  most  profound  bow  was  about  to  depart,  when, 
on  the  suggestion  of  Lord  Barterborough,  it  was  agreed 
to  ask  him  a  few  questions  about  the  number  and 
strength  of  the  rebels. 

"  Your  name  is  Flanagan  ?  " 

"  Yis,  your  honor." 

"  You  came  down  the  mountain  road,  did  you  not, 
on  your  return  from  market  ?  " 

"  Yis,  your  honor,  the  mountain  road  exackitly." 

"  At  what  hour  did  you  come  by  that  part  of  the 
road  which  is  called  '  Cloghnagour  ?  " 


84  THE      PROPHET      OF 

"  Well,  your  honor,  I  can't  tell  the  hour,  as  I  neither 
saw  moon,  stars,  nor  sun,  and  I'm  too  poor  to  carry  a 
watch." 

"  You  can't  say  then,  but  that  it  was  late  at  night  ?  " 

"  Yis,  your  honor,  very  late  at  night.  So  it  was, 
your  honor." 

"  Did  you  see  any  men  there  in  arms,  or  was  you 
interrupted  by  any  sentinels  or  guards  at  that  part  of 
the  road  ?  " 

"  Did  I  see  ?  "  repeated  '  Skith,'  as  it  were  in  ridi- 
cule of  the  Colonel's  simplicity.  "Bow  could  I  see 
whin  it  was  as  dark  as  pitch  ?  I  could  not  see  mee  hand 
if  I  stretched  id  out  from  mee.  Indeed  I  have  neither 
cat  eyes  nor  owl  eyes,  thank  God,  but  neat  Christian 
ones,  and  I  can't  see  impossibilities." 

"  Mind  what  sort  of  answers  you  give  here.,  my  good 
fellow,"  said  his  lordship.  "  You  must  tell  the  truth, 
and  the  whole  truth." 

"  Till  the  thruth  !  I'm  sure  'tis  the  thruth  I'm 
tellin',  and  nothing  else.  You  are  the  furst  who  doubted 
Skith  Flanagan's  word  in  all  mee  life,  so  you  are." 

"  On  your  oath  did  you  meet  any  armed  men  on  the 
mountain,  or  could  there  be  such  men  there  without 
your  knowledge  ?  " 

"Without  my  knowledge  !  Faix,  there  could  be 
millions  uf  min  there  without  my  knowledge.  What 
knowledge  could  I  have  uf  um  at  the  hour  of  midnight 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  85 

or  second  cock  crow,  as  I'm  sure  it  was  whin  I  came 
that  road." 

"As  you  saw  nothing,  then  perhaps  you  heard 
something  such  as  the  report  of  shots  of  small  arms, 
blowing  of  horns  or  bugles,  or  rebellious  shouts  for  liberty 
or  other  treasonable  exclamations  ?  " 

"  Axclumashuns  !  In  troth  there  was  plinty  of  that, 
and  I  heard  some  shots  too,  and  loud  skrieching 
1  Bunan  leans,'  bitterns,  and  plovers  and  woodcocks 
and  grouse,  and  many  other  wild  animals  who  were 
roasting  in  the  burning  heath.  There  is  no  doubt  but 
I  heard  dreadful  cries,  skrieches,  and  all  such  things. 
You  could  see  pins  on  the  road  by  the  light — so  you 
could." 

"  That  is  something  to  the  point,"  said  Lieutenant 
Scarecrow,  who  trembled  in  his  boots  for  fear  of  the  in- 
validation of  his  false  report. 

"  But  the  knave  contradicts  himself,"  remarked  the 
Colonel.  "  He  said  a  few  minutes  ago  '  that  he  could  not 
see  his  hand  by  the  darkness,'  and  now  he  says  '  the 
whole  mountain  was  in  a  blaze,'  and  that  you  could  '  see 
pins  on  the  road.'  " 

"  Yes,  your  honor,  but  that  was  only  while  the  fire 
blazed  ;  but  whin  it  wint  out  it  was  twice  darker  than 
before  the  fire  was  lit.  When  the  fire  was  lit  I  was  far 
south  of  the  Knock  ;  but  with  my  slow  horse  and  heavy 
load,  whin  I  reached  the  place  your  honor  mintioned  it 


86  THE     PROPHET     OF 

was  us  black  as  ould  Nick,  and  there  was  no  more  light 
there  than  there  is  in  the  soul  of  an  unbaptized  heretic. 
I  beg  your  honor's  pardon  for  saying  so." 

"  Skith  "  was  now  dismissed  ;  and  after  a  resolution 
was  passed  that  if  no  better  substitute  for  Father  0 - 
Dounell's  head  could  be  found,  the  head  of  one  of  the 
dead  soldiers  should  be  affixed  to  the  court-house  bell- 
tower  to  awe  the  peasantry — the  council,  after  having 
sat  for  over  four  hours,  was  now  dissolved.  Before  quit- 
ting the  council  chamber,  however,  the  Colonel,  after 
the  departure  of  the  under  officials,  invited  the  party  to 
his  quarters,  where  he  told  them  something  in  the  shape 
of  a  "  dejeuner  a  la  fourchette  "  awaited  them  after  the 
fatigues  of  a  sleepless  and  anxious  night.  The  invi- 
tation was  accepted  by  all  save  my  Lord  Barterborough, 
who  pleaded  as  his  excuse  for  declining  the  feast  that  his 
son  and  heir  Lord  Edward  was  preparing  this  morning 
to  set  out  on  his  continental  tour,  to  perfect  his  educa- 
tion by  travel.  On  this  excuse  his  apology  was  accepted 
by  the  Colonel,  who,  after  escorting  the  lord  to  the  car- 
riage that  stood  at  the  gate,  returned  to  conduct  the 
rest  of  the  party  to  his  well-provided  breakfast  table. 
Though  an  experienced  physiognomist  could  not  but 
read  in  the  naturally  calm  face  of  the  Colonel  some- 
thing like  a  cloud  of  disappointment  at  not  having  his 
board  honored  by  the  presence  of  the  lord,  for  whose 
chief  and  special  pleasure  he  intended  this  compliment, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  87 

yet  it  required  but  very  ordinary  powers  of  observation 
to  perceive  the  effect  which  his  absence  had  on  the  rest 
of  the  guests.  In  fact,  the  faces  of  Sir  Anthony,  Sheriff 
Juggler  and  A.  B.  Westrop,  J.  P.,  were  all  smiles,  and 
nothing  contributed  so  much  to  this  genial  hilarity  as 
the  absence  of  my  lord.  The  second  class  of  aristocrats 
in  Ireland  are  obliged  to  conduct  themselves  in  presence 
of  one  of  the  nobility  with  the  same  behavior  that  a 
cat  or  timid  lapdog  does  in  presence  of  the  majestic 
Newfoundland  or  English  mastiff.  They  must  keep 
silence,  and  look  up  to  him  to  catch  the  approbation  of 
his  eye  ere  they  dare  to  dip  their  spoons  in  their  soup, 
or  put  a  fork  to  their  mouths.  Indeed  the  "  squireen  " 
has  to  pay  the  same  deference  and  worship  to  the  lord 
that  himself  exacts  from  the  peasant  ;  the  only  difference 
in  the  condition  of  the  slaves  .being,  that  the  noble 
is  a  gentleman  and  often  a  man  of  education  and  letters, 
whereas  the  "  squireen  "  is  almost  always  a  low,  brutal, 
uncultivated  savage  in  broadcloth,  whose  yoke  over  the 
peasantry  is  infinitely  more  galling  than  that  of  a  despot 
or  absolute  prince  over  his  serfs  or  vassals.  Sir  Anthony 
and  his  two  worthy  fellow-officials,  the  Sheriff  and  the 
Justice,  enjoyed  themselves  amazingly  on  the  good  cheer 
of  the  English  Colonel,  in  consequence  of  the  lucky  cir- 
cumstance of  my  Lord  Bartcrborough's  declining  of  the 
invitation,  and  now  when  thirst  and  hunger  were  ap- 
peased and  the  appetite  no  longer  sustained  its  urgent 


88  THE      PROPHET      OF 

calls  "  for  generous  wine  and  all  sustaining  beef"  the 
Knight,  with  a  tumbler  full  of  glowing  Burgundy  in  his 
right  hand,  proposed  "  Here's  a  health  to  the  king,  God 
bless  him  !  and  may  we,  his  loyal  subjects,  in  this  day's 
expedition  prove  to  his  majesty  how  ready  we  are  to 
sacrifice  our  lives  for  the  stability  of  his  throne.  Here 
is  success  to  this  day's  expedition  !  !  ! "  Hip,  hip,  hur- 
ra !  followed  three  times  three. 

The  proper  honors  were  paid  to  these  loyal  toasts, 
by  each  of  this  gallant  company,  who,  now  well  pleased 
with  the  entertainment  of  the  Colonel,  and  proud  of 
their  loyalty,  went  out  from  their  substantial  repast,  to 
take  their  places  at  the  head  of  their  several  detach- 
ments, in  the  expedition  against  the  rebels  of  Knock- 
meldown.  They  were  in  high  spirits,  and  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  inflaming  juice  of  the  grape,  loud  and 
bitter  were  their  threats  of  vengeance  against  the 
doomed  disturbers  of  their  loyal  repose.  Sir  Anthony 
especially  gave  utterance  to  high  tory  wrath,  and  on 
mounting  his  spirited  black  charger,  like  some  of  the 
heroes  of  Homer,  addressed  the  animal  in  these  words  : 
"  On,  my  sporting  Sampson,  on  to  the  havoc  !  Thou 
shalt  wash  thy  feet  this  day  in  red  rebel  Papist  blood  ! 
By  all  the  gods  in  Olympus,  thou  shalt,  or  leave  thy 
master  a  corpse  on  the  battle  field  ! " 

Similar  vauntings,  and  louder  and  more  savage 
threats  of  vengeance  proceeded  from  the  lips  of  his  half- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  89 

drunken  and  Orange  subalterns  ;  and  thus  inspired,  like 
bloodhounds  in  the  leash  were  these  savage  dogs  of  war 
about  to  be  let  loose  on  their  innocent  and  unprotected 
countrymen  ! 


90  THE      PROPHET      OF 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THE    EXPEDITION    AGAINST    THE    REBELS. 

At  the  break  of  earliest  dawn  the  drum  and  fife  sounded 
merrily  .through  the  main  street  of  Cloughmore.  And 
gay  were  the  colors  that  were  flying  in  the  gentle  breeze 
of  the  morning,  and  spirited  were  the  horses  that  capered 
and  danced  under  their  riders,  as  this  disciplined  and 
well-formed  procession,  moved  at  a  smart  pace  through 
the  stirred  up  and  alarmed  town.  The  young  folks 
rushed  to  the  doors  and  side-walks  half  dressed,  and  the 
old  cautiously  raised  the  window  blinds,  to  gaze  at  the 
novel  spectacle.  There  were  various  and  different  con- 
jectures among  the  townspeople,  regarding  the  cause 
of  this  early  movement  of  such"  a  formidable  array  of 
horse  and  foot.  Some  thought  that  the  military  was 
called  off  from  the  town  to  repel  some  foreign  invasion 
that  had  taken  place  within  the  past  few  days  ;  and  it 
must  be  confessed  that  "  the  wish  was  father  to  the 
thought"  with  this  very  numerous  class  of  the  people  of 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  91 

Cloughniore.  Others,  and  not  a  few,  were  under  the  im- 
pression that  this  early  move  of  troops  was  nothing 
more  than  the  guard  which  led  the  beloved  parish  priest 
to  execution.  The  hoys,  and  those  who  were  courageous 
enough  to  venture  to  the  side-walks,  however,  combated 
this  conclusion,  by  asserting  that  "  Father  O'Donnell 
was  not  there.  Not  a  bit  of  'im.  Hadn't  we  eyes  in 
our  heads,  and  would  we  not  know  him  if  half  of  'im 
was  burnt  ?"  There  was  a  third  class  of- privileged 
persons,  such  as  the  Orangemen,  and  a  few  of  those  in 
the  secret,  such  as  "  Darby  Anglum,"  and  "  Skith 
O'Flanagan,"  who  were  well  aware  of  the  purpose  and 
destination  of  this  army. 

The  column  was  about  seventeen  hundred  strong, 
and  marched  in  the  following  order  :  Three  hundred  of 
the  fourth  dragoon  guards  led  the  van,  followed  imme- 
diately by  about  two  hundred  yeomen,  led  on  by  "  Sir 
Anthony,"  or  rather  driven  on  by  him,  for  he  rode  in 
the  rear  of  his  troop,  between  the  cavalry  and  the  in- 
fantry, where  he  kept  an  animated  chat  with  Sheriff 
Juggler,  and  A.  B.  Westrop,  who  followed  the  yeoman- 
ry, comfortably  seated  in  their  gig.  About  eleven  hun- 
dred foot  soldiers,  with  a  dozen  artillerymen  in  charge 
of  two  light  field  cannon,  which  brought  up  the  rear, 
completed  this  armament.  Cautious  and  slow  the 
column  moved  along,  as  its  head  gained  on  the  gradual 
ascent  of  the  winding  road,  and  dreadful  was  the  alarm 


92  THE      PROPHET      OF 

created  through  all  the  ranks,  on  beholding  the  advance 
guard  rush  back  at  a  rapid  gallop,  to  report  that  the 
enemy  was  in  view  at  the  very  pass  where  the  troopers 
fell  in  the  action  of  last  night,  as  they  could  tell  by  see- 
ing their  helmets  and  knapsacks  on  the  roadside.  The 
report  further  stated  that  the  rebels  were  commanded 
by  a  personage  much  resembling  the  escaped  priest, 
and  another  leader  formidable  by  his  tall  stature,  and 
the  shining  armor  and  helmet  which  he  wore.  The  co- 
lumn here  halted,  to  receive  the  final  orders  of  the  Co- 
lonel, regarding  the  treatment  the  rebels  were  to  receive." 
He  was  sorry,  he  said,  to  have  to  inform  them  that  they 
were  to  give  "  no  quarter"  to  such  ungrateful:  and  dis- 
loyal subjects.  Such,  he  said,  were  his  instructions,  and 
whatever  might  be  his  own  private  views  regarding  the 
humanity  of  such  instructions,  certain  it  was,  that  as 
there  was  no  discretion  allowed  him,  he  must  fulfil  his 
orders.  There  was  to  be  one  exception  to  these  general 
orders  regarding  "quarter;"  the  escaped  priest,  if 
among  the  rebels,  as  most  probable,  must  be  taken  alive 
if  possible.  And  though  he  had  not  yet  received  any 
orders  from  the  government  on  the  subject,  he  could 
promise  whoever  succeeded  in  recapturing  the  priest  a 
very  handsome  reward. 

Two  hundred  picked  men  were  now  ordered  by  the 
Colonel  to  lead  on  the  attack,  consisting  of  one  hundred 
and  forty  tall  grenadiers  on  foot,  and  sixty  cavalry,  forty 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  93 

of  whom  he  picked  from  the  yeomanry  corps,  on  ac- 
count of  their  knowledge  of  the  place.  The  Colonel 
had  now  an  opportunity  of  testing  the  loyal  bravery  of 
Sir  Anthony,  and  the  courage  of  his  troop,  for  not  only 
did  the  men  refuse  to  go  in  front,  but  Sir  Anthony 
countenanced  their  disobedience.  The  latter  insisted 
that  he  and  his  troop,  if  they  were  not  to  keep  the 
place  they  held  in  the  march,  in  the  centre,  had  better 
fall  back  to  the  rear,  to  frustrate  any  attempt  the  rebels 
might  make  to  turn  the  flank  of  the  regular  soldiers  of 
the  line,  or  cut  off  their  retreat  to  the  town. 

"  Sergeant  Fury,"  cried  the  Colonel,  "  arrest  Sir  An- 
thony Sharper,  captain  of  militia,  for  insubordination 
and  mutiny.  Fourth  dragoon  guards,  surround,  disarm, 
and  dismount  the  detachment  of  yeomanry  cavalry  that 
form  the  contingent  of  the  disobedient  captain."  The 
order  was  about  being  instantly  put  into  execution, 
when  Sheriff  Juggler  and  the  worthy  justice  of  the 
peace,  Westrop,  remonstrating  with  "  Sir  Anthony"  on 
his  rash  conduct,  which  they  said  would  lead  to  his  dis- 
grace and  the  ruin  of  his  family,  the  knight  gave  in 
when  the  irons  were  about  to  be  placed  on  his  hands, 
and  the  mutiny  was  happily  suppressed. 

"  Onward,  advance,"  set  the  column  in  motion 
again,  and  Sir  Anthony  and  his  men  moved  on  like  an- 
tomata,  through  fear.  They  had  not  advanced  many 
yards  forward,  when  a  spark  was  seen  to  issue  from  bo- 


94  THE      PROPHET      OF 

hind  the   famous    "  Cloghnagour"  rock,   and  then  in- 
stantly the  report  of  a  rifle,  and  Sir  Anthony  dropped 
from  Sampson's  back  dead  on  the  road.     Another,  and 
a  second,  and  a  third  discharge  succeeded  the  one  that 
bore   Sir  Anthony's  doom,  without  the  knowledge  of 
where  they  came  from,  or  how  numerous  the  body  from 
whom  these  fatal  shots  proceeded.     The  yeomanry  corps 
staggered  and  hesitated  at  every  step,  on  seeing  no  less 
than  four  of  their  comrades  cut  off  by  the  unerring  aim 
of  their  invisible  opponents.     They  began  to  think  of 
all  they  heard  of  the  "  enchanted  warrior  ;"  their  imagi- 
nations became  confused,  and  they  would  have  turned 
back  if  they  dared,  but  they  knew  that  the  naked  bay- 
onets of  the  red  soldiers  were  at  their  backs,  and  that 
retreat  was  no  less  fatal  than  to  advance.     Providen- 
tially, one  of  them  perceiving  a  gap  in  the  stone  wall 
that  fenced  the  road,  turned  his  horse  to  the  left,  and 
passing  along  a  narrow  defile,  partly  formed  by  a  moun- 
tain torrent,  and  partly  by  nature,  he  gained  the  level 
plain,  and  scampered  back  towards  the  town  in  full 
speed.     He  was  followed  by  the  whole  of  his  cowardly 
associates,  who,  with  both  hands  grasped  around  their 
horses'  necks,  and  their  bodies  hanging  at  one  side,  so  as 
to  be  protected  by  the  shoulders  and  necks  of  the  ani- 
mals, were  soon  out  of  the  reach  of  the  enemy's  fire. 
"  A   good    riddance    of  yourselves    and   your  cowardly 
captain,"  exclaimed  Clive,  "  you  wretched,  headless  eav 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  95 

airy.  Forward,  dragoons ;  double  quick  march,  and  dis- 
lodge that  enemy  from  behind  the  rocks.  Advance  at 
full  speed.  Take  the  priest  alive  if  you  can.  I  cannot 
believe  there  is  any  thing  of  a  formidable  force  there 
after  all,"  he  said,  addressing  himself  to  the  Sheriff. 

Off  the  dragoons  rode,  shaking  the  very  earth,  and 
causing  the  mountain  to  resound  with  the  echo  of  their 
heavy  tramp.  They  have  quickly  gained  the  formida- 
ble pass,  when,  wonderful  to  relate,  there  is  not  a  single 
soul  to  be  seen.  The  only  sign  of  life  is  a  few  live  coals 
of  a  peat  fire,  that  lay  in  cinders  and  ashes,  at  the  foot 
of  the  great  rock  of  "  Cloghnagour  !  "  But  hark  !  what, 
or  who  is  that  running  along  the  level  flat  between  the 
two  mountain  peaks  on  foot  ?  A  solitary  individual 
foe.  "  Pursue  him,  guards,  and  take  him  alive,  if  pos- 
sible/' shouted,  Sergeant  Fury,  who  had  the  command 
of  this  forlorn  hope.  With  that  they  put  spurs  to  their 
panting  steeds,  and  giving  them  a  loose  rein,  make  like 
the  greyhound  after  the  timid  hare,  to  seize  their  victim. 
Now  they  are  within  musket-shot  of  him.  Now  he 
looks  back  at  them,  and  hears  their  calls  to  him  to  sur- 
render. In  a  few  moments  more  he  is  their  prisoner. 
They  have  but  to  pass  that  little  hillock,  with  the  peat 
stack  on  its  top,  that  for  a  moment  shuts  him  out  from 
their  view,  and  if  he  yields  not  when  called  on,  he  falls 
a  victim  to  his  own  folly.  But  crack  goes  the  rifle 
again  from  behind  the  turf-stack,  and  one  of  the  fine 


%  THE      PROPHET      OF 

red-coated  cavalry  falls  and  bites  the  "  Canavaun "  in 
death  !  He  is  quite  dead.  His  brave  comrade  stops  a 
moment,  to  gaze  on  his  brother  dragoon.  He  hears  the 
words  of  the  flying  rebel  exclaiming,  "  Now  take  me  if 
you  can.  No  surrender."  The  pursuing  trooper  re- 
doubles his  speed,  and  just  reaching  the  summit  of  the 
knoll,  cries  out  with  all  his  lungs,  "  Now,  brigand,  sur- 
render, or  die  ! "  His  voice  is  heard  by  his  comrades 
in  the  rear,  who  fancy  that  the  rebel  is  a  captive,  and 
slacken  their  pace.  "  But  what  the  devil,  where  is  the 
robber  ?  "  exclaimed  the  foremost  dragoon  ;  "  enchant- 
ed, fled  through  the  air,  or  sunk  through  the  earth  ?  I 
can  see  for  a  mile  around  me,  but  hang  the  bit  of  the 
murderer  I  can  see.  Oh,  I  know  what  he  has  done. 
He  has  only  cast  himself  on  the  ground,  to  reload  his 
murderous  piece.  Ho  !  ho  !  ho  !  lads,,  come  forward 
quick  ;  the  fellow  has  taken  to  cover." 

"  Cover  the  mischief,"  they  exclaimed  ;  "  where  is 
the  cover  here,  but  cussed  heather  ?  " 

"  'Ang  me  dead  ;  may  I  be  shot,  if  I  can  see  the 
green  rebel.  Shawners,  my  covey,  'e  'as  disappeared  ; 
'e  must  be  a  ghost  or  a  devil.  Blow  my  heyes  out,  if  I 
can  see  him." 

"  The  Cownell,  I  guess,  will  blow  your  heyes,  or 
string  you  high  up  enuff,  if  you  let  the  prisoner  escape," 
answered  Corporal  Shawners. 

"  Let  'im  escape  !  Not  I.  He  wasn't  a  prisoner  ; 
only  pursued." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  97 

The  Colonel  forthwith  came  up,  and  so  did  the  whole 
force,  but  no  prisoner,  nor  any  account  of  one  could  be 
given  by  the  unhappy  soldier  who  chanced  to  be  fore- 
most in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  All  that  poor  Private 
Gummell  could  say  was,  that  he  pursued  the  flying 
rebel  up  to  this,  and  that  he  must  either  have  vanished 
into  air,  or  sunk  into  earth  in  this  precise  spot  where  he 
now  stood. 

The  poor  fellow  was  unhorsed  immediately,  and  after 
a  summary  examination,  ordered  on  his  knees,  and  one 
of  the  grenadiers  singled  out  from  his  rank,  and  on  a 
given  signal  a  bullet  pierced  his  heart.  "  I  will  enforce 
something  like  discipline  in  this  troop,"  said  the  Colonel, 
"  or  decimate  you  by  lot,  you  cowardly  rascals  !  Would 
to  Heaven,  Mr.  Sheriff,"  said  he,  addressing  Juggler, 
"  you  had  kept  your  dastardly  yeomanry  at  home  at  their 
congenial  warfare  of  murdering  old  men  and  defenceless 
women  and  children,  rather  than  that  this  confusion 
should  be  created  among  our  men  by  their  contagious 
cowardice." 

He  then  ordered  the  whole  jtroop  to  deploy  into  a 
wide  circular  line,  so  as  to  take  in  the  whole  plain  as  far 
as  the  road  between  the  two  peaks  of  the  mountain  ;  and 
giving  them  instructions  to  close  in  till  they  all  met  in 
the  centre,  so  that  if  there  were  man  or  mouse  secreted 
there  he  could  not  be  missed, 

The  men  were  disposing  themselves  under  the  in- 
5 


98  THE      PROPHET      OF 

structions  of  their  officers,  and  the  sound  of  the  bugle 
announced  that  all  was  done  according  to  instructions, 
when  on  the  opposite,  or  left  peak  of  the  mountain,  near 
its  base,  a  man,  wrapped  in  a  cloak,  was  observed  to  move 
in  rather  a  hurried  gait  up  the  side  of  the  hill.  The 
Colonel  placed  his  telescope  to  his  eye,  and  taking  a  close 
view  of  the  man  so  spied,  cried  out  to  Sergeant  Fury, 
"  Go,  capture  that  man,  who  is,  if  I  am  not  deceived,  the 
escaped  priest.  Speak  not  a  word  to  him,  and  do  not 
offer  him  the  least  violence."  In  less  than  fifteen  min- 
utes the  order  was  executed,  and  Fury,  coming  back  to 
make  his  report,  remarked,  that  he  doubted  not  it  was 
the  priest,  for  he  could  recognize  the  cloak,  which  was 
seen  by  himself  frequently  on  the  prisoner  ;  and  it  being 
rather  an  elegant  one,  he  could  not  be  mistaken. 

"AH  right,"  answered  the  Colonel.  "Fury,  take 
that  horse  of  Gummell's,  and  mounting  the  prisoner  on 
it,  conduct  him  back  to  the  town  well  guarded.  Tell 
Captain  Jones  to  lead  back  the  whole  of  the  dragoon 
guards,  as  there  appears  to  be  no  enemy  here,  nor  sign 
of  one,  while  myself,  with  the  infantry,  will  prosecute  the 
search  for  this  missing  rebel,  who,  you  say,  disappeared 
here." 

Sergeant  Fury  touched  his  cap,  and  went  to  execute 
his  orders.  In  the  mean  time,  the  search  for  the  "  en- 
chanted warrior "  commenced,  and  there  was  not  a  foot 
of  the  square  mile  that  constituted  this  mountain  level 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  99 

but  was  walked  over  foot  by  foot  and  inch  by  inch  by  the 
Colonel  and  his  eleven  hundred  men.  This  search  was 
not  confined  to  this  smooth  surfaced  plain,  but  the  bog- 
holes,  out  of  which  turf  was  cut,  the  ravines,  the  turf- 
clumps,  or  "  grogawns,"  and  every  other  possible  hiding- 
place,  was  examined  and  searched  most  carefully,  but  all 
to  no  purpose. 

The  Colonel  next  visited  the  small  circular  lake  in  the 
neighborhood,  into  which  it  was  said  the  "enchanted 
warrior  "  was  often  seen  to  plunge  when  closely  pursued. 
He  saw  no  possible  hiding-place  on  the  "  gloomy  shore  " 
of  this  small  collection  of  water,  except  a  few  large  rocks, 
which  in  one  place  bordered  it,  or  rather  rose  from  its 
verge  on  one  side.  He  attempted  to  sound  the  lake,  but, 
though  he  sunk  a  lead  several  score  fathoms,  he  found  no 
bottom.  s 

Finally,  it  being  now  near  noon,  and  the  sky  be- 
coming suddenly  overcast  with  dark  portentous  clouds, 
the  Colonel,  chagrined  in  mind,  and  soured  in  temper, 
ordered  a  quick  retreat  back  to  the  town  of  Cloughmore. 
No  time  was  to  be  lost  in  making  good  their  retreat,  for 
the  column  had  not  advanced  a  mile,  when  the  thunder 
roared  over  their  heads,  the  forked  lightning  struck  the 
earth,  which  groaned  and  shuddered  beneath  their  feet ; 
and  the  heavy  rain,  which  a  frightful  south-east  wind 
blew  right  in  their  face,  drenched  them  to  the  very  skin. 
That  fine  body  of  men  which  at  six  o'clock  on  this  event- 
ful day  moved  along  from  the  town  so  gay,  so  neat,  and 


100  THE      PROPHET      OF 

in  such  good  spirits,  returned  back  about  four  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon,  in  the  most  wretched  plight,  with  their 
firelocks  and  buckles  rusty,  their  red  coats  washed  al- 
most white,  their  pantaloons  and  boots  coated  with  mixed 
bog  and  road  mud,  their  feathers,  gay  and  formidable 
furs,  flabby  and  deformed :  and,  to  add  to  their  woes, 
their  stomachs  empty,  after  the  foolish  and  profitless  ex- 
pedition to  Knockmeldown. 

The  peasantry,  on  the  other  hand,  felt  rejoiced  that 
God,  as  they  said,  "  did  not  allow  the  holy  priest  to  die 
without  showing  his  anger."  For  it  is  believed  by  them 
that  the  Lord  always  manifests  his  displeasure  to  mortals 
by  sending  "  thunder,  wind  and  lightning/'  or  other  ce- 
lestial phenomena,  when  any  remarkable  instance  of  in- 
justice or  perjury  takes  place,  such  as  the  conviction  of 
Father  O'Donnell  exemplified. 

"  0  the  Lord  save  us  !  "  said  Mrs.  O'Halpeen  to  her 
husband  Mihaul ;  "  isn't  that  a  shure  sign  that  Father 
O'Donnell  is  put  to  death  wrong  !  " 

"  Well,  Mavourneen "  (my  dear),  answered  Mihaul 
{Anglice,  Mike),  "  didn't  we  know  that  well  enough  with- 
out tunder  or  lightening  the  Lord  betune  us  an'  harm." 

"  0  wisha  murther,  isn't  it  a  wonther  God  doesn't  kill 
the  villians  out  an'  out  ?     For  there  is 

'  Thunder,  wind  and  lightenin' 
As  plain  as  you  may  see, 
To  let  each  faithful  Christian  know 
Their  woeful  perjury.'  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  101 

"  Hould  your  tung,  woman  ;  why  should  we  ask 
why  God  doesn't  do  this  or  that  ?  I  thought  you  knew 
your  catechism  better  than  that,"  said  Mihaul,  crossing 
himself. 

Another  loud  roar  succeeded  a  flash  of  bright,  stun- 
ning lightning.  "  0  Dieu  le  m'anim  "  (Lord,  save  my 
soul),  cried  Judy,  "  it's  the  last  day  of  the  world.  Come, 
let  us  say  the  rosary." 

"  Wid  all  me  heart,"  said  Mihaul,  who,  though  he 
trembled  like  a  leaf,  sought  to  comfort  his  wife  by  seem- 
ing courage.  Both  went  on  their  knees,  and  with  con- 
trite hearts  and  trembling,  but  fervent  language,  re- 
peated the  whole  seven  decades  of  that  beautiful  exer- 
cise of  prayer  ere  the  storm  abated. 

We  may  here  remark,  that,  though  thunder-storms 
are  of  rare  occurrence  in  Ireland  when  compared  with 
other  countries,  and  are  seldom  or  never  injurious  in 
their  effects  to  either  life  or  property,  the  peasantry,  re- 
garding these  phenomena  as  so  many  warnings  from  the 
Deity  to  his  creatures,  are  strongly  impressed  with  the 
fear  of  His  awful  attributes  on  such  occasions.  Nor  can 
this  feeling  be  condemned  as  superstitious  or  wrong.  We 
know  from  sacred  tradition  that  God  frequently  com- 
municated his  will  to  men,  when  the  most  awful  thun- 
der and  lightning  rent  the  elements,  and  that  the  stout- 
est hearts  will  quake  and  faint  with  fear  at  the  terrors 
that  will  precede  his  second  coming  to  judge  the  world. 


102  THE      PROPHET      OF 

And  although  science  satisfactorily  accounts  for  the 
production  and  formation  of  these  electrical  commotions 
in  the  atmosphere,  it  cannot  tell,  for  it  is  not  within  its 
province  to  say,  whether  the  great  Creator  does  not  fre- 
quently now,  as  well  as  in  former  times,  make  use  of 
these  natural  causes  to  bring  about  moral  and  religious 
effects.  Many  a  man  has  been  prevented  from  commit- 
ting a  crime  by  hearing  the  distant  thunder  bursting 
over  his  head. 

So  far  from  condemning,  then,  we  should  rather  en- 
courage these  sentiments  of  humble  and  repenting  fear 
of  God's  Majesty,  with  which  the  Irish  peasantry  recog- 
nize His  terrible  voice  in  the  loud  roaring  of  the  thun- 
der when  it  shakes  the  earth,  or  kindles  up  the  bound- 
less expanse  of  heaven  by  its  dreadful  light. 

"  Pugnabit  pro  eo  omnis  orbis  terrarum  contra  in- 
sensatas."  "  The  universe  will  fight  for  Him  against 
the  insensate." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  103 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE     CAPTIVE. 

Joy  of  the  most  tumultuous  character  pervaded  the 
fourth  dragoon  guards  of  King  George  the  Third,  as 
they  returned  from  their  formidable  expedition  to  the 
sides  of  Knockmeldown.  , 

The  Sassenagh  troopers  are  in  great  glee,  at  the  idea 
of  having  secured  the  rebel  priest,  as  well  as  at  the  pros- 
pect of  having  established  their  clear  claim  to  the  liberal 
reward  which  they  expected  for  having  secured  him 
alive.  Many  a  gross  jibe  and  ribald  joke  was  indulged 
in  at  the  expense  of  his  Reverence,  whose  capture,  singu- 
lar enough,  took  place  on  this  Tuesday  of  the  last  week 
of  Lent. 

"  Ha,  old  feller,  your  miraculous  powers  have  failed 
thee  at  last,"  said  a  sheep-faced  old  puritan  that  you 
would  take  for  one  of  Cromwell's  own  chosen  few. 

"  Ye'es,  she's  na'  wort  a  flap-jack  now  at  saugh 
slights  o'  hand,  I  warrant,"  said  a  brutal  Cornwall 
trooper,  who  held  one  of  the  reins  of  the  prisoner's  horse. 


104  THE      PROPHET      OF 

"  Dinna  sport,  mon,  dinna  trifle,  haud  weel  your 
haud,  or  tin  to  ane  he  may  slip  yer  hands  or  disappear 
through  the  srun,  as  the  ither  reebel  did  frae  Private 
Gummell,  and  then,  mon,  hae  a  care  ye  na  git  yer  nie 
cracket,  mon,  instead  o*  the  Dominee,"  said  a  Scotch 
Highlander  who  had  doffed  the  kilt  of  his  barren  moun- 
tains for  the  "  breeks  "  of  the  dragoons. 

As  they  approached  the  town,  the  hedges  and  fences 
were  crowded  with  the  townspeople,  particularly  the 
young  of  both  sexes,  who  had  come  out  to  see  the  return 
of  the  dragoons,  as  well  as  to  sympathize  with  the  re- 
captured priest.  Many  a  loud  prayer  was  offered  by 
them  for  their  benefactor,  as  they  supposed  him  to  be, 
when  seen  by  them  at  a  distance,  while  his  guards  were 
saluted  with  a  vehement  hooting.  As  the  troop  ap- 
proached, however,  and  the  prisoner  was  recognized,  the 
sorrow  which  was  depicted  in  the  countenances  of  the 
peasantry  was  replaced  by  a  sudden  mirth,  and  a  sup- 
pressed laugh  ran  along  the  fence  line  as  the  people  got 
a  nearer  view  of  the  prisoner.  At  length  the  humor  of 
the  townspeople  broke  out  into  audible  jokes  and  witti- 
cisms at  the  stupidity  of  the  dragoons. 

"  Oh,  Dick,  Lord  bless  us,"  said  a  servant  girl, 
"  doesn't  his  Kiverence  look  mighty  well  after  his  long 
time  in  jail  ?     I  can't  help  laughing,  I'm  so  rejoiced." 

"  Begor,  he  does  look  well,"  said  Dick.  "  Yarrow,  I 
wondhur  where  they  caught  him.     The  Lord  be  praised, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  105 

he  must  be  a  great  man,  intirely,  whin  it  required  so 
many  sideurs  (soldiers)  to  catch  him  !  " 

"  Dragoons,  draw  and  disperse  these  idle  spectators," 
said  Lieutenant  Scarecrow,  who  felt  indignant  at  the 
audacity  of  the  townspeople.  The  fences  were  soon 
cleared,  the  heads  drawn  in  from  the  windows,  and  a 
closer  guard  placed  around  the  prisoner,  so  that  he 
could  not  communicate,  even  by  a  look,  with  the  people. 
The  court-yard  of  the  prison  was  just  opened,  and  with 
three  loud  cheers  for  the  king,  the  prisoner  was  given  up 
to  the  Governor.  But  that  official,  whose  face  was  ra- 
diant with  royal  smiles  since  he  heard  of  the  recapture 
of  the  priest,  now  became  suddenly  overwhelmed  with 
grief,  when  he  was  satisfied  by  the  testimony  of  his 
senses,  that  this  was  not  the  man.  "  Mr.  Bremner,"  said 
Lieutenant  Scarecrow,  "  is  not  this  the  escaped  pris- 
oner ?  Do  you  not  recognize  him  as  Priest  O'Don- 
nell  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  nor  you  can't  recognize  him  nor  nobody 
else.  If  I  am  n<}t  mistaken,"  continued  Bremner,  "that 
is  Lord  Barterborough's  fool,  Darby  Anglum." 

'  Begor,  thin,  you're  right  for  wanst,  Mr.  Bremner," 
said  Darby,  bursting  out  into  loud  laughter.  "  I  am 
shurely  mee  Lord  Barterborrow's  friend  and  fellow-ser- 
vant. Yes,  faith,  and  clothed  by  his  high  lordship's 
honor  and  glory.  He,  he,  he  !  haw,  haw,  haw  !  con- 
tinued the  fool.     I  had  my  whine  saddle  ride  on  a  dhra- 

5* 


106  THE      PROPHET      OF 

goon's  horse,  and  all  for  nothing.      Id  bates  Banner  and 
Ballinasloe,  haw,  haw,. haw  !  " 

"  Whoever  he  is,"  said  Sergeant  Fury,  "  keep  him  in 
close  custody  till  the  Colonel  arrive.  You  will  find  the 
knavish  priest  is  counterfeiting  madness.  I  will  wager 
'tis  nothing  else." 

"  Counterfeiting  humbug,  Sargeant,"  said  Governor 
Bremner  ;  "  do' you  want  to  deprive  me  of  the  sight  of 
my  eyes  ?  Do  you  think  I  do  not  know  this  fool  as 
well,  and  better  than  I  do  you  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  more  to  say  about  it,  sir.  I  have  done 
my  duty,  and  but  acted  according  to  orders,"  replied 
the  Sergeant. 

Soon  after  this  dialogue,  the  court-yard  of  the  prison 
received  a  coach  and  four  within  its  ample  gates,  and  in 
this  carriage  were  seated  Colonel  Clive  and  Lord  Bar- 
terborough.  They  came  to  examine  the  captured  priest, 
and  to  decide  regarding  his  execution.  A  subordinate 
turnkey  was  dispatched  with  instructions  to  conduct  the 
prisoner  from  his  cell  to  the  presence  of  these  high  offi- 
cials. A  fit  of  loud  laughter  seized  the  simpleton  at  the 
idea  of  his  being  mistaken  for  any  "  dacent  gentleman." 
"lam  glad  to  meet  mee  lord  safe  and  sound  here," 
said  he,  turning  to  Barterborough,  "  after  this  mornin's 
great  battle  up  at  Poul  nagour." 

"  Who  the  devil  is  this  you  have  got  here  ?  "  ex- 
claimed his  lordship  in  astonishment. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  107 

<:  Mee  loard,  I'm  no  divil  at  all,"  said  Darby,  whose 
ears  were  very  acute  ;  "  but  an  hanist  man,  as  your 
honor  and  glory  can  prove,  who  know  me  and  supported 
me  this  twenty  years." 

"  Confound  me,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  if  I  know  who 
is  accountable  for  this  blunder  ;  but  the  report  being 
made  to  me  that  he  was  the  escaped  priest,  I  of  course 
ordered  him  back  to  the  town  under  a  strong  escort  for 
execution." 

"  For  exicution,"  exclaimed  Darby,  who  understood 
not  the  meaning  of  the  word-  "  Yes,  and  for  a  good 
dinner,  and  good  pair  of  new  breeches,  too,  for  now 
I  will  be  a  gantleman  out  and  out,  if  I  only  could  get 
a  velveteen  breeches,  as  I  has  a  dhragoon's  horse  and  a 
marshal's  cloak.  But  if  exicution  be  a  clane  shirt, 
your  honor  needn't  mind  it,  for  it  was  only  yisterday  I 
got  this  shirt  from  Miss  Mary  O'Donnell,  God  bless 
her  ;  and  this  cloak  I  got  from  another  O'Donnell,  long 
life  to  his  Riverence.  All  I  want  now  is  a*  good  pair  of 
shorts,  if  it  plase  your  honors  ;  I  don't  want  the  '  exi- 
cution '  at  all." 

It  was  with  difficulty  that  the  lord  and  the  Colonel 
could  command  their  gravity  after  reflecting  on  the  ludi- 
crous position  of  matters,  and  listening  to  the  above 
speech  of  the  simpleton.  At  length  Barterborough,  pre- 
tending great  indignation  at  Darby,  addressed  him,  say- 
ing, "  You  arrant  knave,  how  came  you  by  that  cloak  ?  " 


108  THE     PBOPHET     OF 

"  Arrint  knave  !  that  isn't  my  name  at  all,  mee 
Lord,  but  yer  own  auld  friend  Darby  Anglura.  Yarrow, 
maybe  your  honor  and  glory  don't  know  me  in  ac- 
count of  this  cloak,"  said  he,  throwing  it  on  the.  table 
that  stood  in  front  of  him. 

"  Silence,  sirrah,  or  I  will  hang  you.  Answer  what 
has  been  asked  you." 

"  Hang  me  !  0  Virgin  Mary,  what  for  ?  Did  I 
ever  steal,  or  lie,  or  kill,  or  rob,  or  " 

"  Where  did  you  get  that  cloak  ?  " 

"  Where  did  I  get  it,  eh  ?  " 

"  Yes,  where  did  you  get  it  ?  " 

"  I  didn't  get  it  at  all,  shure.  It  was  gev  me  by 
that  holy  man  Father  O'Donnell,  for  God's  sake  ;  so  it 
was.  Now  did  you  ewor  hear  the  like,  to  say  that  Darby 
Anglum  ewor  stole  any  thing,  let  alone  the  priest's  cloak  ? 
newor,  newor  ! " 

"  And  where  did  you  see  the  priest  ?  " 

"  Where  did  I  see  him  ?  " 

"Yes." 

"  I  saw  him  in  chapel  celebratin'  the  Holy  Mass, 
where  you  could  see  him  if  you  wur  of  the  right  faith  ! 
I  saw  him  goin'  to  sick  calls.  I  saw  him  at  the  fair 
when  the  boys  wor  fighting,  making  pace  atween  the 
*  Caravats  '  and  '  Shanavests.'  " 

"  Where  did  you  see  him  last  time  ?  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  109 

"  I  saw  him  in  the  road  going  up  the  mountain  near 
where  the  battle  was  to-day." 

"  And  where  did  he  go  then  ?  " 

"  He  wint  to  Cork  I  believe  to  sail  to  Amerikee,  I 
think  ;  may  God  presarve  him  on  his  journey." 

"  You  see,"  whispered  his  lordship,  "  my  conjecture 
was  correct,  regarding  the  destination  of  the  escaped 
priest  ;  and  what  confirms  me  in  the  notion  of  his  hav- 
ing made  for  Cork  is,  that  his  brother  Thomas  has  at- 
tended  him,  and  that  I  am  informed  they  had  engaged 
relays  of  fresh  horses  at  all  the  post-towns  from  this  to 
Cork.  It  was  a  planned  thing,  you  may  depend  on  it. 
You  can  rely  on  the  testimony  of  this  idiot,  who  won't 
tell  a  lie  if  he  was  to  escape  hanging  by  it,  but  you  have 
to  repeat  the  question  once  or  twice  before  he  can  com- 
prehend what  you  say." 

They  were  now  joined  by  the  Sheriff,  who  came  with 
his  death-warrant,  and  who  asked  the  Colonel  whether 
the  priest  was  well  watched,  for  that  there  were  reasons 
for  suspecting  his  resolution  to  commit  suicide  rather 
than  die  the  ignominious  death  of  the  gallows. 

"  Catch  the  hare  first,"  answered  Colonel  Clive,  "  be- 
fore you  prepare  to  cook  him.      Where  is  your  priest  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  say,  Colonel  ?  My  God,  did  I  not  es- 
cort him  inside  these  walls  within  an  hour,  and  only  went 
to  the  court-house  to  procure  the  death-warrant  and 
give  instructions  to  the  hangman  ?  " 


110  THE      PROPHET      OP 

"  So,  so,  but  you  see  your  prisoner  turns  out  to  be  no 
other  than  his  lordship's  entertaining  guest,  honest  Dar- 
by Anglum." 

"  Why,  Colonel,  you  must  joke.  My  lord,  I  assure 
you  I  saw  " 

"  We  are  in  too  serious  a  mood  now,  Sheriff,  to  in- 
dulge in  such  comical  tricks,"  said  the  Colonel  ;  "  there 
is  your  recaptured  priest  for  you." 

"  Faith,  I'm  very  like  him  now,  shurely,"  said  Dar- 
by, "  in  this  cloak.     Amn't  I,  mee  lord  Shurruff  ?  " 

"  Well,  well,  what's  to  be  done  in  that  case  ?  " 

"  What  do  you  recommend  ?  "  answered  the  Colonel, 
giving  a  meaning  look  towards  his  lordship.  "  We  await 
your  wise  counsels.     Speak  your  mind." 

"  My  mind  is  at  once  to  hang  this  fool  in  place  of  the 
priest,  for  sure  he  deserves  hanging  at  any  rate  on  account 
of  his  treasonable  trick." 

"  Hang  me  !  "  cried  Darby.  "  Do  if  you  dare  and 
mee  lord  prisent.  You  want  hangin'  yourself  maybe, 
or  killing,  like  '  Sir  Anthony'  the  l  Keolmcn,'  who  niver 
let  Darby  inside  his  beggar  kitchen.  His  head  is  now 
up  the  '  boreen,'  with  the  dogs  and  weasels  eating  it, 
and  yours  ought  to  be  there  too,  you  hangman,"  said 
the  fool,  rushing  at  the  Sheriff  as  he  spoke  with  clench- 
ed fists. 

"  0  save  me,  save  me,  or  he  will  murder  me,  take 
away  your  fool  my  lord,"  cried  the  half-strangled  official 
of  the  rope. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  Ill 

"  You  ought  to  have  a  little  better  sense,  Mr.  Sheriff, 
than  to  bandy  words  with  a  poor  simpleton,  and  some- 
what more  humanity  than  to  recommend  the  murder  of 
a  poor  harmless  creature,  such  as  we  all  know  Darby  to 
be,"  said  Lord  Barterborough,  rather  bitterly. 

"  It  is  really  a  shame,"  added  the  Colonel,  "  that 
men  having  the  administration  of  justice  confided  to 
them  by  the  sovereign  should  display  such  utter  incapa- 
city, such  puerile  levity,  such  absolute  want  of  common 
sense,  and  I  may  add,  such  barbarity,  as  I  must  confess 
I  have  witnessed  in  the  servants  of  the  crown  almost 
without  exception  since  I  have  been  intrusted  with  this 
unlucky  command.  I  am  not  at  all  astonished  that  the 
people  have  lost  all  confidence  in  their  natural  leaders 
and  rulers  ;  I  am  not  surprised  that  they  should  become 
disloyal  and  rebellious  under  such  treatment  as  they  have 
met  from  those  whose  chief  duty  it  was,  and  is,  to  pro- 
tect them  in  their  lives  and  properties.  Think  of  the 
idea  of  unhappy  Sir  Anthony  Sharper  proposing  to  hang 
his  own  butler  !  and  you,  Mr.  Sheriff,  proposing  the  ex- 
ecution of  an  idiot,  a  perfect  innocent,  and  all  this,  as 
you  say,  through  loyal  motives — to  keep  down  the  pea- 
santry and  maintain  the  king's  rule  in  Ireland  !  Better 
that  the  island  should  sink  in  the  ocean  ;  or  that  the 
Hottentots  or  Algerines  should  rule  it,  than  that  its  sov- 
ereignty Should  be  upheld  by  such  blundering  misrule 
as  I  have  witnessed  since  I  came  to  the  country.     Mind, 


112  THE      PROPHET      OF 

I  do  not  blame  or  censure  the  administration  in  London 
or  Dublin  ;  I  only  include  in  my  unreserved  condemna- 
tion the  local  government  as  administered  by  Sheriffs, 
Justices  of  the  Peace,  Town  Councils,  and  other  minor 
officials." 

To  this  severe  reprimand  the  sheriff  answered  not  a 
word,  but  humbly  awaited  the  Colonel's  instructions 
regarding  the  duties  of  his  office,  and  the  disposal  of  the 
death-warrant.  It  was  agreed  that  the  Sheriff  should 
dispose  of  the  body  of  one  of  the  soldiers,  who  fell  in  the 
action  of  the  morning,  so  as  to  awe  the  peasantry.  The 
head  of  one  of  the  yeomanry,  who  was  a  natural  son  of 
Sir  Anthony,  was  accordingly  affixed  to  a  pike  after  a 
mock  execution  under  the  instructions  of  the  Sheriff,  and 
placed  on  the  highest  gable-end  of  the  court-house  of 
Cloughmore,  where  it  remained  for  many  a  day,  to  shock 
the  public  eye,  and  it  was  from  this  circumstance,  that 
the  impression  went  abroad  that  Father  O'Donnell  was 
executed,  instead  of  having  escaped,  as  it  is  the  object 
of  this  history  to  show.  This  impression,  however, 
though  a  general  one,  was  not  universal,  for  the  officials, 
who  were  actors  in  the  deception,  knew  well  that  the 
priest  had  escaped  their  hands,  and  so  did  his  friends 
and  relations,  as  well  as  those  few  of  the  people  who 
knew  of  or  aided  in  his  delivery  from  the  power  of  his 
enemies.  Among  these  latter  we  must  not  omit  to  in- 
clude the  honest  fool  Darby  Anglum,  who  we  are  happy 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  113 

to  say  escaped  hanging  on  this  occasion,  and  spent  the 
remainder  of  his  days  partly  at  the  "Great  House"  of 
his  noble  patron,  and  partly  at  Fairy  Hill  Cottage,  the 
homestead  of  the  O'Donnell  family. 

The  comparatively  few,  however,  who  were  aware  of 
the  escape  of  the  priest,  either  were  not  of  sufficient  in- 
fluence or  sufficiently  communicative  to  do  away  with 
the  general  belief  of  his  execution,  and  though  from  that 
day  to  this  a  tradition  existed  confirmatory  of  the  facts 
in  the  case,  this  tradition  has  ever  been  of  a  particular 
and  local  nature.  Electricity  had  not  yet  descended 
from  her  aerial  dwellings  with  her  lightning  messengers, 
to  subserve  the  aspiring  intellect  of  man,  nor  had  the 
fire- king,  emerging  from  his  hidden  recesses  in  the 
bowels  of  the  earth,  dared  to  commit  his  glowing  car, 
on  his  iron  causeway,  on  the  surface  of  our  planet  ;  and 
hence  the  historian  of  that  period  has  to  contend  with  a 
dearth  of  facts,  and  lack  of  materials,  which  renders  his 
task  one  of  difficulty,  and  which  the  facility  and  extent 
of  modern  sources  of  information,  must  for  the  future 
abundantly  provide  against,  and  for  ever  preclude. 


114  THE      PROPHET    \OF 


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1 


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Y,Y 


CHAPTER    IX. 

THE      FATE      OF      THE      FUGITIVE. 

We  shall  now  take  leave  of  the  Council  and  its  delib- 
erations, about  their  prisoner  the  fool,  to  see  what  be- 
came of  the  fugitive  and  his  attendant  brother.  The 
reader  will  not  forget  the  address,  which  Terry  O'Mara 
displayed,  in  stopping  the  pursuit  of  the  priest  by  the 
dragoon-guards.  It  was  to  this  stratagem  that  he  owed 
the  success  of  his  escape,  for  the  darkness  of  the  night, 
and  the  feebleness  of  his  health,  consequent  on  his  im- 
prisonment, rendered  his  progress  comparatively  slow. 
Besides  these  unavoidable  impediments  to  the  rapidity 
of  their  movements,  their  speed  was  furthermore  retard- 
ed by  the  loss  of  a  shoe  by  the  animal  which  the  priest 
rode.  They  had  to  be  very  cautious  likewise,  in  avoid- 
ing one  or  two  patrols  of  yeomen,  whom  they  could  dis- 
tinguish from  the  boisterous  choruses  of  their  loyal  songs 
of  "  Croppy  lie  down,"  ~  Boyne  Water,"  and  other 
Orange    doggerels,   with    which    they   enlivened    their 


\» 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  115 

nightly  promenades  during  these  rebellious  nights.     The 
fugitives  on  both  occasions  escaped  the  vigilance  of  these 
drunken  night  guards,  by  getting  inside  the  road  fences, 
and  halting  under  the  shade  of  some  hawthorn  or  birch- 
tree,  or  making  the  best  speed  they  could  through  the 
fields  and  over  the  fences,  till  they  were  a  mile  or  two 
in  the  advance  or  rear  of  their  enemies.     These  inciden- 
tal delays  would  have  made  the  recapture  of  the  priest 
an  easy  feat  to  the   party  of  dragoons,  long   ere  he 
reached  Dungarvan,  had  not  the  gallant  conduct  and 
unexampled  daring  of  O'Mara  retarded  their  hot  pur- 
suit, and  drove  them  back  in  a  panic  to  their  head-quar- 
ters.    Between  two  and  three  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
having  arrived  in  Dungarvan,  the  clergyman  took  affec- 
tionate leave  of  his  brother  Thomas,  having  been  met 
by  the  Eev.  Mr.  Murphy,  who  expected  him  anxiously 
during  the  night,  and  who  undertook  his  further  escort 
to  the  ship  which  was  to  receive  him  on  board.     This 
was  a  gallant  yacht  named  the  "  Joan  d'Arc,"  which 
was  commanded   by  a  brave   Irish   exile,  one  of  the 
"  Wild  Geese,"  Le  Barry,  who  volunteered  on  this  dan- 
gerous expedition  from  hatred  to  England,  as  well  as 
from  friendship  to  his  friend  Captain  O'Donnell.     The 
vessel   lay  anchored -a   little   outside   the   bay  of  the 
borough,  in  the  shade  of  an  island  rock,  to  avoid  obser- 
vation.    A  rocket  was  shot  into  the  air  by  the  party  on 
shore,  who  stood  opposite  to  where  the  craft  lay  at  an- 


116  THE      PROPHET      OF 

chor,  and  in  a  few  minutes  a  boat  manned  by  four  ma- 
rines was  observed  moving  silently  but  rapidly  towards 
the  shore.  The  parole  from  the  boat  was  gjven  "  St. 
Denis/'  which  being  responded  to  by  "  St.  Patrick/'  a 
plank  was  shoved  ashore,  and  Father  O'Donnell  having 
embraced  his  faithful  Kev.  friend,  bid  adieu  to  his  na- 
tive land  and  defiance  to  his  persecutors.  On  his  reach- 
ing the  "  Joan  d'Arc/'  he  was  received  with  great  cour- 
tesy by  Commander  Le  Barry,  who  after  having  congra- 
tulated him  on  his  escape  under  the  flag  of  France,  took 
him  to  his  cabin  to  invite  him  to  repose  and  to  get  from 
him  a  brief  account  of  his  escape,  and  hear  the  fate  of 
his  friend  the  Captain.  On  hearing  that  the  Captain 
was  left  behind  in  prison,  the  eyes  of  the  vehement  Le 
Barry  emitted  sparks  of  fire  through  rage,  and  it  was 
with  difficulty  that  he  was  restrained  from  firing  on  the 
town  of  Dungarvan.  This  adventure  being  altogether  a 
private  affair  undertaken  wholly  at  the  risk  of  Le  Barry 
and  O'Donnell,  with  the  sole  connivance  of  the  French 
monarch,  this  bold  project  of  bombarding  the  town  was 
at  once  abandoned.  Besides,  the  innocent  in  this  case 
would  have  to  suffer,  while  the  guilty  would  be  sure  to 
be  out  of  reach  of  harm,  and  besides,  such  a  step  might 
do  no  good  but  much  injury  to  his  friend's  case.  A 
council  of  war  was  held  by  the  few  officers  of  the  ship, 
consisting  of  commander,  lieutenant,  and  midshipmen, 
and  a  seat  at  the  council,  table  was  given  to  Father 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  117 

O'Donnell  ;  when  it  was  resolved,  that  the  escaped 
priest  should  he  first  placed  out  of  danger,  ere  any  fur- 
ther steps  should  be  taken  for  the  release  of  the  Captain. 
The  rage  of  the  gallant  Le  Barry  was  now  changed  to 
the  gentle  dew  of  tears,  when  he  found  he  could  not  as- 
sist his  bosom  friend.  But  what  could  he  do  ?  He  had 
only  about  twenty-five  men  on  board  ;  he  was  specially 
warned  not  to  compromise  his  royal  master,  the  "  Grand 
Monarcme,"  and  the  distance  from  shore  of  the  place  of 
his  friend's  imprisonment,  made  it  utterly  impossible  to 
expect  to  succeed  in  his  rescue. 

The  stern  command  was  now  given  in  the  Captain's 
martial  tone  of  voice,  to  haul  the  anchor,  unfurl  the 
sails,  and  prepare  a  return  to  "  La  Belle  France." 
Instantly  the  nimble  sailor  runs  up  along  the  tall  mast, 
or  balances  himself  on  the  giddy  yard-arm,  while  the 
marines  and  other  hands  seize  on  the  lever  bars  and 
work  at  the  capstan,  or  secure  the  portholes  against  the 
encroachment  of  surly  waves.  And  now  the  melan- 
choly clank  of  the  plaintive  anchor-chain  rings  along  the 
beach  and  is  borne  by  the  breeze  over  the  bay,  and  the 
grave  chorus  of  the  sailors  loosing  their  canvas  to  the 
wind,  and  balancing  themselves  on  their  unsteady  foot- 
holds, is  re-echoed  from  the  rocky  shore,  and  the  spright- 
ly vessel  herself,  as  if  conscious  of  the  dangers  of  delay, 
dances  on  the  surface  of  the  watery  plain,  and  like  a  grey- 
hound in  the  leash,  seems  eager  for  the  expected  race. 


118  THE      PEOPHET      OF 

Off  she  starts  with  her  prow  to  the  south-west,  guided 
by  a  faithful  hand  at  the  steerage  ;  with  her  snow-white 
pennons  to  the  breeze,  she  dashes  amidst  the  opposing 
billows  and  sets  their  foaming  rage  at  defiance.  To  one 
on  the  sandy  beach  she  now  appears  like  a  swan  riding 
over  the  surface  of  a  rippling  lake,  or  like  some  beautiful 
sea-bird,  with  expanded  wings,  skimming  over  the  ocean, 
now  appearing  and  now  disappearing  on  the  surface 
of  the  uneven  surges  !  They  had  scarcely  cleared  the 
shallows,  and  gotten  outside  the  perils  of  the  rock-bound 
coast,  when  one  of  the  sailors  from  the  topmast  cried 
out  in  the  usual  tone,  "  Sails  ahoy  !  "  and  the  Captain 
soon  perceived  by  his  telescope  that  two  British  frigates 
were  in  pursuit  of  his  little  ship.  To  make  resistance 
against  such  formidable  opponents,  the  Captain  thought 
would  be  utter  madness.  He  therefore  spread  all  his 
canvas  to  the  breeze,  and  keeping  as  close  as  he  could 
to  the  shore,  keeping  the  starboard  tack,  he  attempted 
by  this  means  to  keep  out  of  gun-reach  of  his  gigantic 
pursuers. 

The  heavens  now  began  to  be  overcast  with  black 
portentous  clouds  ;  the  loud  roar  of  the  thunder  of 
heaven  soon  silenced  or  rendered  unheard  the  cannon  of 
the  frigates,  and  the  summits  of  the  Cummerah  Moun- 
tains and  the  neighboring  hills  enveloped  in  dense  sur- 
charged mists,  blazed  with  the  incessant  flashes  of  the 
electric  fluid.     The  terrific  chase  continues  unabated 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  119 

around  Ardmore  Head,  outside  Youghall  Harbor,  past  the 
Cove  of  Cork,  and   so  far  the  gallant   "  Joan   d'Arc  " 
saved  her  distance  and  kept  her  ground  ;  but  now  in 
order  to  be  able  to  double  Cape  Clear  and  reach  the 
wide  Atlantic,  she  has  to  change  her  tack,  and  the  rising 
violence  of  a  strong  breeze  from  the  south-west  compels 
her  to  reef  her  sails  and  lighten  her  canvas.    Oh,  horrors  ! 
the  breeze  will  be  instantly  a  gale,  and  the  gale  t  beaten  s 
to  be  a  hurricane,  and  what  is  to  become  of  the  "  Joan 
d'Arc  "  then  ?     There  are  two  poor  sailors  overboard — 
Lord,  have  mercy  on  them  !  and  there  is  Father  O'Don- 
nell  giving  them  absolution  ere  they  sink  for  ever  under 
the  mighty  waters  !       The   topgallant-mast    and    the 
mizzenmast  are  gone,  and  so  are  the  yards  and  every 
tack  of  canvas  from  her  bare  limbs  !     She  is  now  almost 
at  the  mercy  of  the  waves  and  of  the  British  frigates, 
but  the  gigantic  hunters  themselves  are  obliged  to  save 
themselves  from  the  rage  of  the  elements,  and  with  close- 
reefed  sails,  to  seek  for  refuge  in  the  Cove  of  Cork.     The 
"  Joan "  has  escaped  one  enemy,  and  the  most  merciless, 
though  not  the  most  powerful  of  the  two,  that  is,  the 
wrath  of  the  English  men-of-war  ;  but  she  is  carried 
before  the  wind,  and  nothing  but  the  hand  of  Heaven 
can  save  her  from  the  doom  of  a  watery  grave.     No  one 
despairs  as  yet,  however,  and  the  manly  bosoms  of  all 
burn  with  emulation  in  the  work  of  saving  their  ship 
and  themselves.     Nothing  is  heard  on  deck  but  the 


120  THE      PROPHET      OF 

voices  of  captain,  soldiers,  sailors, — all  encouraging  one 
another  to  work  for  the  common  safety,  to  struggle 
against  the  threatening  destruction.  The  mainmast  is 
at  length  snapt  in  twain,  the  rudder  torn  away,  the  deck 
swept  clean  of  guns,  bulwarks,  and  stores  ;  the  bravest 
and  most  active  of  the  sailors  and  soldiers  carried  over- 
board by  a  mountainous  wave,  when  the  brave  Le  Barry 
at  last  exclaims,  in  Trench,  "  Mon  Pere,  tout  est  perdu  ! 
0  mon  Dieu  misericorde  !  "  and  rushed  down  into  the 
cabin  to  inform  the  father  of  their  despairing  condition. 
He  found  the  faithful  servant  of  Grod  on  his  knees,  and 
with  uplifted  hands,  calling  on  Heaven  for  mercy,  mercy, 
mercy  !  Having  made  a  brief  confession  and  received 
the  absolving  sentence  of  Heaven,  he  assisted  the  priest 
up  to  the  deck,  during  a  sort  of  fitful  calm  of  the  hurri- 
cane— as  if  it  repented  of  its  cruelty  by  the  sacrifice  of 
so  many  men — who,  with  uplifted  hand,  pronounced  the 
absolution  over  the  poor  fellows  overboard  ere  they  sunk 
to  rise  no  more  !  Another  sea  heaves  itself  over  the 
trunk  of  the  "Joan  d'Arc,"  and  the  Captain  is  swept 
from  his  side,  and  the  priest  himself  is  hurried  in  an 
eddy  of  water  back  senseless  into  the  cabin.  All  is  now 
lost,  as  the  hull  of  the  yacht  is  borne  on  before  the  storm 
without  a  mast  and  without  a  rudder,  or  a  living  soul  to 
steer  her,  and  it  is  well  that  her  gallant  crew  perished 
in  one  mighty  gulf,  for  soon  a  more  terrible  death  than 
that  of  drowning  had  awaited  them.     She  is  now  urged 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  121 

on  by  the  force  of  a  rapid  wind,  assisted  by  furious  bil- 
lows, and  the  wild  breakers  of  Malbay  are  grinning  with 
rage,  and  destruction  is  re-echoed  from  every  cave  and 
nook  and  cavity  of  those  terrible  cliffs  against  which  she 
is  about  to  be  dashed.     A  few  moments  more,  and  not 
a  trace  of  the  gallant  "Joan  d'Arc"  could  be  discerned 
by  the  eye  of  a  spectator  who  might  chance  to  have 
witnessed  her  fate  from  the  shore.     She  has  either  sunk 
to  the  bottom  of  the  ocean  beneath  the  violence  of  the 
waves,  or,  crushed  against  the  dreadful  cliffs  that  form 
the  barrier  to  the  encroachments  of  the  dread  Atlantic 
on  the  western  coast  of  Ireland,  her  wreck  must  have 
been  forced  into  the  caverns  of  this  iron  coast,  or  scat- 
tered in  indistinguisbable  fragments  over  the  rasing  ele- 
ment.     The  fate  of  this  unlucky  vessel,  however,  was 
not  witnessed  by  a  single  person  from  shore  ;  for  the 
wild  coast  against  which  she  was  driven  is  uninhabited, 
save  by  the  millions  of  sea-gulls  and  other  aquatic  birds 
which  seek  here  safe  retreats  for  their  incubation  and 
young  ;  the  violence  of  the  storm  had  caused  all  per- 
sons whose  occupation  was  outside  doors  to  take  refuge 
in  their  houses,  and  the  amazing  rapidity  with  which 
she  was  drifted  before  the  wind  must  have  hindered  her 
from  being  observed  from  the  shore.     Thus  her  falling 
into  the  Scylla  and  Charybdis  of  the  Irish  and  Eng- 
lish seas  was  as  fatal  to  our  "Joan  d'Arc"  as  the  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  English  was  to  her  namesake,  the 
G 


122  THE      PROPHET      OF 

Maid  of  Orleans,  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VI.  in  1430  ! 
Alas  !  that  the  enterprises  and  noble  attempts  of  the 
brave  and  chivalrous  should  so  often  miscarry,. and  that 
the  fate  of  the  "  Joan  d'Arc  "  should  be  similar  to  those 
of  many  more  powerful  and  promising  expeditions  on 
behalf  of  Ireland.  The  rude  and  merciless  elements 
have  more  than  once  proved  the  best  allies  of  English 
tyranny  and  injustice  in  Ireland,  and  her  own  wild  and 
stormy  coasts  have  been  no  less  fatal  to  the  liberating 
expeditionary  armies  of  her  allies,  than  the  native  trea- 
chery of  her  degenerate  children  or  the  wanton  cruelty 
of  her  unscrupulous  conquerors  ! 

But  the  day  is  fast  approaching,  yea,  the  time  is  al- 
most at  hand,  when  the  waters  of  trial  and  persecution 
will  recede  from  thy  fertile  soil,  0  Erin  !  leaving  thy  fair 
plains  more  productive  in  all  temporal  blessings  than 
the  valley  of  the  plenteous  Nile,  and  elevating  thy  sons 
as  far  above  the  modern  nations  that  surround  thee  in 
all  the  ennobling  virtues  "of  humanity  and  civilization, 
as  they  are  already  supreme ;  in  faith  and  all  the  divine 
virtues  of  revelation  and  religion  !  But  we  must  not 
anticipate  what  properly  belongs  to  a  future  period  of 
our  narrative  to  unfold. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  123 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE       AMBUSCADE. 

During  the  confinement  in  jail  of  the  family  of  the 
O'Donnells,  our  friend  "Terry,"  the  "enchanted  war- 
rior/' was  not  inactive  in  his  favorite  vocation  of  defeat- 
ing the  designs  of  the  enemy  of  his  country.  The 
female  and  younger  members  of  the  family  of  "  Fairy 
Hill  Cottage"  were  liberated  after  a  few  days  confine- 
ment, through  the  interference  of  Lady  Barterborough, 
who  was  shocked  that  the  innocent  wife  and  children  of 
neighbor  O'Donnell  should  be  punished  for  a  violation 
of  law  for  which  their  uncle  alone  was  responsible. 
Thomas  O'Donnell,  the  proprietor  of  the  college,  had  to 
abscond  and  go  on  his  "  keeping"  to  allow  the  storm 
that  threatened  him  to  pass  over  his  head.  With  the 
permission  of  the  family,  Terry  O'Mara  came  to  reside 
at  "Fairy  Hill,"  and  had  the  chief  care  of  the  farm  in- 
trusted to  him  during  the  probable  absence  of  its  legit- 
imate owner.     Having  therefore  changed  his  own  home- 


124  THE      PROPHET      OF 

stead  on  the  hillside  for  the  cottage,  O'Mara  disguised 
himself  in  the  habiliments  of  "  the  man  of  all  work," 
and  by  this  means  got  frequent  opportunities  of  visiting 
the  Captain  in  his  cell.  Though  he  was  never  once  al- 
lowed to  enter  the  cell  door,  and  had  to  endure  the 
presence  of  a  turnkey  whose  business  it  was  to  report 
the  conversation  between  them,  yet  he  managed,  by 
speaking  in  a  rapid  tone  and  mixing  a  few  words  of  Irish 
with  the  flat  broken  English  he  assumed,  to  puzzle  the 
Saxon  guard,  and  to  give  the  Captain  to  understand  that 
an  attempt  would  be  made  for  his  release.  He  learned 
from  the  Captain  that  offers  of  pardon  were  made  him- 
self, provided  he  renounced  the  French  service,  and  dis- 
closed any  important  secrets  he  might  possess  regarding 
the  policy  of  the  French  monarch,  who  was  suspected 
of  secretly  aiding  the  American  revolutionists,  and  on 
that  account  had  war  been  declared  against  him  ;  but 
that  on  his  contemptuous  refusal  of  these  humiliating 
terms  he  was  in  a  few  days  to  be  sent  to  Dublin  castle, 
to  stand  his  trial  for  high  treason  to  his  majesty  Greorge 
III.,  as  a  rebel,  and  a  French  spy.  It  was  in  vain 
that  he  showed  his  protection  from  the  French  king, 
and  his  commission  as  Captain  of  the  "  Chasseurs  de 
Vincennes,"  or  threatened  the  probable  result,  namely, 
the  execution  of  many  English  prisoners  during  the  im- 
pending contest  of  war,  /or  any  illegal  detention  of  his 
person — all  would  not  do.     He  was  a   British  subject, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  125 

and  he  was  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  the  "  glorious 
constitution,"  which  was  a  yard  of  hemp  rope,  or  to  an 
ounce  of  lead,  if  found  guilty  of  conspiring  with  the 
French,  "  our  natural  enemies,"  for  the  freedom  of  his 
wretched  country.  O'Mara  was  present  when  an  official 
communicated  these  final  conclusions  come  to  at  the 
"  Castle  of  Dublin,"  and  the  termination  of  all  further 
negotiations  regarding  the  disposal  of  the  prisoner. 

The  Lieutenant,  who  delivered  this  message,  in- 
structed him,  furthermore,  to  be  ready  at  a  moment's 
notice  to  start  for  the  metropolis,  nothing  preventing 
the  setting  out  immediately  of  the  escort  in  whose  cus- 
tody he  was  to  go,  but  an  order  from  the  Lord  Lieuten- 
ant, which  was  hourly  expected,  and  only  delayed  by 
his  excellency,  who  was  on  his  way  from  England,  where 
he  had  gone  to  consult  the  sovereign  regarding  the  criti- 
cal state  of  the  country.  Upon  inquiry  what  was  to  be 
the  mode  of  conveyance  to  the  metropolis,  he  was  in- 
formed that  he  must  go  on  foot,  as  the  commanding  of- 
ficer received  no  instructions  to  that  effect.  Colonel 
Clive  had  left  for  England  the  day  after  the  expedition 
to  the  mountain,  and  the  command  now  in  his  absence 
devolved  on  one  Captain  Kidd,  whom  we  have  not  yet 
introduced,  because  he  was  absent  up  to  the  departure 
of  Colonel  Clive.  This  was  the  person  who  acquainted 
the  Captain,  that  since  Colonel  Clive  left  no  orders, 
he  could  not  procure  him  a  horse  ;  that  there  was  not 


126  THE      PROPHET      OF 

one  to  spare  besides,  and  "even  if  there  was/'  he  said, 
"  I  do  not  consider  von  entitled  to  the  accommodation, 
owing  to  your  having  renounced  the  allegiance  of  your 
lawful  sovereign,  and  joined  the  French  service." 

"  I  renounce  allegiance  to  a  lawful  sovereign  !  You 
are  in  error  sir,  I  tell  you,"  replied  the  Captain.  "  I 
never  yet  had  a  lawful  sovereign.  I  never  acknowledged 
your  English  king  as  my  sovereign,  and  it  was  my  na- 
tive love  of  loyalty  that  induced  me  to  quit  a  loved 
country,  where  I  had  no  sovereign  to  serve  or  uphold, 
for  one  where  there  is  indeed  a  king,  who  rules  over 
happy  subjects." 

"  This  is  adding  insult  to  treason,  sir,  and  I  shall 
note  it  down,"  said  Kidd. 

"  Don't  let  one  wTord  escape.  But  mind,  I  am  a 
French  naturalized  subject,  and  that  I  never  gave,  nor 
owed  allegiance  to  your  monarch  of  England.  If  this 
is  treason,  I  must  plead  guilty  of  the  charge.  But  to 
return  to  my  mode  of  travelling  to  Dublin,  you  may  as 
well  murder  me  at  once,  in  my  present  state  of  health, 
and  such  weather,  as  compel  me  to  travel  such  a  dis- 
tance on  foot.  This  you  can  yourself  understand,  by 
my  appearance." 

"  Well,  your  honor,"  interposed  O'Mara,  "  won't 
you  allow  the  Captain  to  use  my  master,  his  brother's 
gray  mare,  or  rather  one  which  young  Lord  Barterbo- 
rough  has  in  grass  with  us,  to  ride  on  to  Dublin  ?  Eh, 
your  honor,  Gin  eral  Kidd  ?  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  127 

"  Well,  let's  see,"  replied  the  Saxon  Captain,  reflect- 
ing. "  Yaus,  I  consider  you  entitled  to  ride  your  own  'oss, 
if  you  can  procure  one.  I  shall  consult  with  Lieuten- 
ant Scarecrow  about  it,  but  I  guess  there  will  be  no 
trouble  on  that  head,  especial!^  as  you  ^appear  indis- 
posed." 

"  Long  life  to  your  honor,"  said  Terry  O'Mara.  "  I 
know  we  can  bony  my  Lord  Barterborough's  gray  '  Sea- 
gull,' as  his  lordship  was  so  kind  to  interfere  to  get  the 
ladies  out  of  jail.  I'll  have  the  mare  ready  any  min- 
ute." 

In  order  that  the  reader  may  learn  the  cause  of 
Terry  O'Mara's  Jib  regarding  the  "  Seagull,"  it  will 
be  necessary  to  state,  that  at  this  period,  or  about 
it,  no  Koman  Catholic  could  possess  a  horse  over  the 
value  of  five  pounds  sterling,  and  whenever  Catholics 
owned  animals  of  more  than  this  value,  they  were  held 
in  trust  for  them  by  some  liberal  Protestant  of  their 
neighborhood.  It  was  so  in  the  instance  of  Thomas 
O'Donnell's  "  Seagull,"  which  young  Lord  Barterbo- 
rough  consented  to  own  nominally,  in  order  to  save  the 
beautiful  animal  for  her  proprietor,  from  the  avarice  of 
some  low  Protestant  yeoman  or  trooper,  who  could  come 
up  any  day  to  the  farmer  and  offer  him  five  pounds, 
which  if  he  refused  to  accept,  the  Protestant  took  for- 
cible possession  of  his  unfortunate  Catholic  neighbor's 
horse  !     Such  was  one  of  the  enlightened  laws  by  which 


128  THE      PROPHET      OF 

Protestantism  attempted  to  establish  herself  in  Ireland, 
and  yet  she  raises  her  head  like  a  prostitute,  and  claims 
herself  to  be  the  mother  of  all  the  liberality  there  exists 
in  Christendom,  styling  herself  patroness  of  learning, 
liberty,  and  laws  !  !  !      * 

But  to  return  to  our  narrative.  After  "  Terry  O'Ma- 
ra"  had  received  instructions  to  have  "  Seagull"  ready 
at  any  time  within  a  week,  when  she  might  be  required, 
and  having  been  instructed  to  go  by  the  mail-coach  to 
Dublin  himself,  in  order  to  ride  the  mare  back,  he 
started  off  to  the  cottage,  to  set  about  the  requisite  ar- 
rangements. Having  given  Cuddihy,  the  ordinary 
ploughman  of  the  farm,  a  few  emphatic  instructions  about 
certain  preparations  unintelligible  to  him,  (XMara  him- 
self set  about  exercising  the  gray  mare.  He  drove  the 
mare  twice  a  day  up  towards  the  mountain  on  full  gal- 
lop, over  hedges,  ditches,  and  brooks  ;  and  at  his  return 
to  the  cottage,  he  made  her  leap  over  a  heap  of  burning 
wheat  straw,  which  he  had  caused  to  be  placed  in  the 
centre  of  the  avenue.  After  four  or  five  turns  at  such 
strange  exercise,  "  Seagull "  took  a  particular  pride  in 
prancing  up  towards  the  blazing  barricade,  and  flying 
clear  over  it  at  a  bound,  with  her  rider  safe  in  the  sad- 
dle. 

Dinny  Cuddihy  was  puzzled  and  alarmed  at  this  ex- 
traordinary training,  and  though  forbidden  by  O'Mara 
to  open  his  mouth  on  the  subject  to  any  body,  was  heard 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  129 

in  the  kitchen,  when  the  former  was  out,  to  mutter  to 
his  neighbor  Patcheen  Meer,  "  that  Terry  must  be 
cract,  or  that  the  fairies  had  a  hoult  on  him,  for  he  was 
laid  out  in  either  killing  the  mare,  or  tacking  her  such 
thricks  as  would  keep  her  from  sellin'  for  evur.  He  was 
afraid  the  masthur  would  be  the  loser."  This  he  would 
speak  in  the  lowest  whisper,  for  fear  Terry  would  catch 
his  meaning ;  and  if  that  should  happen,  he  looked  on 
himself  as  lost,  for  Terry  was  regarded  by  most  men 
as  "  enchanted,"  otherwise,  they  said,  "  how  could  he 
sink  into  the  ground  when  he  liked,  or  have  escaped  the 
many  shots  fired  at  him  by  the  gamekeepers,  who  had 
so  often  chased  him  in  vain.  Shure,  he  must  have  a 
charmed  life,  and  nothing  could  kill  him  except  a  silver 
bullet  shot  out  of  a  good  rifle,  for  he  was  often  shot  with 
lead  to  no  purpose." 

O'Mara  having  learned  on  one  of  his  daily  visits  to 
the  prison,  on  what  day  the  Captain  was  to  set  out  for 
Dublin,  and  having  left  "  Seagull "  ready  saddled  at  the 
town  hotel,  for  the  latter,  on  the  eve  of  his  setting  out, 
suddenly  disappeared  himself  from  the  cottage,  attended 
by  Cuddihy.  Nobody  knew  of  where  they  had  gone  to, 
but  it  was  found  that  one  of  the  "  staggcens,"  or  work- 
ing-horses of  the  farm  was  gone,  too,  together  with  the 
two  donkey  jacks  of  their  kind,  which  were  the  ordinary 
carriers  of  milk-panniers  to  the  town. 

The  remaining  portion  of  the  family  were  astonished 
6* 


130  THE      PROPHET      OF 

for  what  use  the  two  famous  donkeys  were  taken  away, 
knowing  their  irreclaimable  propensities  to  kick  and 
bite  all  quadrupeds,  and  other  animals  not  of  their  own 
species,  and  they  had  an  especial  antipathy  to  horses. 
In  fact,  so  obstinate  were  these  two  jacks,  called  "  Cas- 
tor and  Pollux"  by  a  classical  schoolmaster  of  the 
neighborhood,  in  following  and  putting  in  practice  their 
illegal  habits  of  biting  and  kicking,  that  they  had  al- 
ways to  be  muzzled  when  harnessed  in  straddles.  Be- 
sides this  pair  of  quadrupeds,  the  "  staggeen  horse," 
with  a  dray  cart-load  of  wheaten  straw,  and  the  valiant 
Denny  Cuddihy,  were  all  that  accompanied  O'Mara. 
They  travelled  all  that  remained  of  the  night,  since 
their  starting,  and  all  the  following  day,  until  about  one 
hour  or  so  before  dusk,  they  arrived  at  the  city  of  Kil- 
kenny, where,  having  prepared  feed  for  their  beasts, 
they  intended  to  put  up  for  the  night.  They  had 
scarcely  grained  tJieir  animals,  and  partaken  of  a  slight 
refresbjnent  themselves,  when  they  were  startled  by  a 
troop  of  guards,  twenty-five  in  number,  who  rode  up  to 
the  hotel,  the  "  Ormond  Arms,"  with  poor  Captain 
O'Donnell  guarded  in  the  centre  of  the  body  ! 

"  Come,  Cuddihy,  come,  you  knave  !  "  cried  O'Ma- 
ra, after  having  heard  the  commander  of  the  troop, 
Lieutenant  Scarecrow,  cry  out  that  his  men  had  twenty 
minutes  for  refreshments,  and  to  guard  well  the  prison- 
er ;  "  come,  Cuddihy,  let  us  haste,  or  our  stratagem  is 
spoiled — the  Captain  is  lost." 


THE      RTJINED      ABBEY.  131 

Our  force,  now  consisting  of  the  respectable  quad- 
rupeds already  described,  with  two  men,  all  together 
counting  five  individuals,  made  as  great  haste  as  they 
could,  across  the  Nore  by  the  stone  bridge,  to  occupy  the 
"  road  to  Dublin."  Having  travelled  about  two  and  a 
half  Irish  miles  outside  the  u  Faire  Citie,"  on  the  Dub- 
lin road,  they  halted  near  the  gate  of  what  is  called  a 
"  gentleman's  house,"  which  lay  inclosed  amid  a  plan- 
tation of  magnificent  trees,  that  hid  it  from  the  vulgar 
eye.  At  this  gate,  there  was  an  ample  semicircular 
space  of  a  well-gravelled  carriage-road,  leading  to  the 
"  great  house,"  and  wide-spreading  beeches,  and  majes- 
tic elms,  through  their  embracing  and  intermingling 
branches,  formed  a  graceful  arching  arbor  over  the  road 
for  a  distance  of  half  a  mile.  This,  added  to  the  late- 
ness of  the  hour,  rendered  the  place  almost  dark,  so 
that  those  who  passed  by  must  not  have  observed  "  Ter- 
ry" and  his  party,  or  they  must  have  taken  them  for 
tinkers,  who  were  preparing  to  put  up  for  the  night  in 
such  a  sheltered  place.  It  was  then,  for  the  first  time, 
that  the  plan  of  O'Mara  was  communicated  to  Cuddihy, 
together  with  strict  orders  as  to  what  was  to  be  his  share 
in  the  affair.  The  latter,  however,  did  not  much  relish 
these  plans,  nor  the  commands  of  his  leader,  and  began 
to  urge  his  objections. 

"  Not  a  word  from  you,  Denny,"  he  said,  "  under 
pain  of  instant  death  ; "   at  the  same  time  drawing 


132  THE      PROPHET      OF 

a  concealed  "skine   blade"  from   under   his  overcoat. 
"  See,  is  that  gate  open  ?  " 

"  It  is." 

"  Very  well.  Now  have  your  live  coal  ready,  and 
when  I  say  '  fire/  light  this  '  suggawn-braud,'  '  great 
straivrope,'  and  fling  more  straw  on  it ;  and  when  I 
cry  'cut,'  then  slip  off  the  muzzles  of  the  donkeys, 
cut  their  girths,  and  face  them  towards  home." 

Soon  the  heavy  tramp  of  troopers'  horses  was  heard 
from  the  west.  "  Draw  !  "  cries  O'Mara,  and  soon  the 
whole  cart-load  of  straw  was  drawn  like  a  hedge  across 
the  road.  "  Fire  !  "  was  next  given,  and  now  the  whole 
place  smoked  and  blazed  like  a  wall  of  fire.  Terry  then 
approached  the  guards,  and  addressing  the  Lieutenant, 
requested  him  to  visit  his  master,  who  lived  in  the 
"great  house  inside,"  and  who  was  afraid  of  attack 
from  rebels.  The  gate  was  in  the  mean  time  opened  by 
Cuddihy,  who  after  having  done  so,  stood  ready  to  loose 
his  formidable  donkeys  on  the  opposing  foe. 

"  Scoundrel !  "  cried  Lieutenant  Scarecrow,  "  how 
dare  you  obstruct  the  king's  highway  ?  " 

"  Cut  ! "  answered  Terry,  after  stopping  the  Lieu- 
tenant's sentence  by  a  bullet  in   the  mouth.     "  Cut  ! 

cut!" 

With  that,  the  asses  rushed  forward  on  the  troop, 
and  braying  in  high  tenor  notes,  and  rearing  and  kick- 
ing in  gallant  style,  they  set  about  biting  the  horses, 
some  of  whom  were  overset.     Terry,  in  the  mean  time, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  133 

struck  with  his  "  skine  "  at  the  thongs  with  which  Cap- 
tain O'Donnell's  horse  was  tied  to  those  of  two  dra- 
goons, and  crying  "Over!"  "Seagull/'  as  if  conscious 
of  the  consequences  that  were  dependent  on  her  leap, 
flew  like  a  bird  over  both  fire  and  smoke.  The  dragoons 
attempted  to  follow,  but  their  horses  became  restive, 
and  balked.  They  fired  several  shots,  but  the  smoke 
and  the  darkness  intercepting  their  aim,  the  shots  took 
no  effect. 

The  whole  troop  now  rushed  in  the  gate  of  Colonel 
Bruit,  for  the  want  of  a  better  way,  and  drawing  up 
before  his  hall-door,  alarmed  his  whole  household.  The 
Colonel  rushed,  sword  in  hand,  attended  by  his  servants 
and  tenants  in  arms,  whom  he  had  to  defend  his  house 
against  apprehended  attacks  of  rebels,  and  ere  he  was 
aware  who  or  what  they  were,  another  of  the  king's 
men  fell  lifeless  from  his  horse,  by  a  bullet  discharged 
from  one  of  the  king's  own  muskets. 

Thus  ended  the  ambuscade  of  the  Nore,  and  by  this 
means  was  another  O'Donnell  rescued  from  the  grasp  of 
the  minions  of  Britain. 

Terry  and  his  timid  companion  returned  by  one 
route  towards  home  ;  but  the  Captain  took  a  rounder 
but  safer  road  towards  the  same  locality.  The  dragoon 
guards  put  up  at  Colonel  Bruit's  that  night ;  and  if  they 
lost  their  prisoner  and  one  or  two  of  their  troop,  they 
gained  good  lodgings  and  good  cheer  to  compensate 
them  for  their  misfortunes. 


134  THE      PROPHET      OF 


CHAPTER   XI. 

DANGEROUS     CURIOSITY. 

The  Captain,  on  his  way  back  to  the  ancestral  cottage 
of  "  Fairy  Hill,"  borne  along  by  the  surefooted  "  Sea- 
gull/' took  the  old  road  by  the  foot  of  "  Sliab-na-man," 
in  order  to  escape  the  vigilance  of  the  patrolling  detach- 
ments of  yeornanry  which  he  knew  frequented  the  mail- 
coach  roads,  to  the  great  annoyance  of  the  neighboring 
peasantry  and  inconvenience  of  travellers.  When  within 
about  three  miles  of  the  village  of  Mullinahone,  he 
slackened  the  flying  speed  of  the  "Seagull"  into  an 
easy  trot,  as  well  with  a  view  of  giving  his  animal 
breathing  time,  as  to  apply  his  mind  with  more  atten- 
tion to  the  conflicting  and  confused  ideas  that  agitated 
his  reflecting  faculties. 

What  was  the  next  step  that  he  was  to  take  ?  Was 
he  to  consult  for  his  own  safety  by  flight,  or  resolve  to 
devote  the  remainder  of  his  life  and  experience  in  aiding 
his  fellow-countrymen  in  emancipating  themselves  from 
the  galling  yoke  of  British  tyranny  ?     They  were  not 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  135 

voluntary  slaves,  as  he  had  ample  proof  of  in  the  bravery 
of  O'Mara,  and  the  determination  which  his  few  sworn 
unarmed  peasants  had  shown  in  their  design  to  rescue 
his  dear  reverend  brother.  It  was  not  for  want  of 
courage,  or  through  lack  of  heroism,  that  these  poor 
people  were  trampled  upon.  No  ;  all  they  wanted  was 
a  leader,  a  captain,  who,  with  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
military  skill  and  modern  tactics,  would  reflect  back  on 
the  public  view  the  honesty  and  bravery  of  the  peasantry 
themselves, — a  man  in  whose  countenance  all  men  could 
read  an  inextinguishable  hatred  of  the  oppressor,  and  an 
ardent,  enthusiastic,  holy  love  of  Erin  and  her  people, 
her  history,  her  language,  and  her  traditions.  He  did  not 
feel,  to  be  sure,  that  himself  possessed,  in  any  adequate 
degree,  these  requirements,  or  the  indispensable  quali- 
ties of  the  leader  of  his  countrymen  ;  but  was  he  to 
desert  them  on  that  account  ?  If  he  could  not  pre- 
sume to  become  the  leader,  was  he,  on  account  of  his 
conscious  short-comings  in  this  respect,  to  neglect  to  do 
all  he  could,  for  his  down-trodden  and  martyred  coun- 
try ?  "  Though  I  wear  the  livery  of  the  '  Grande  Mo- 
narque/  and  would  shed  my  last  blood  in  defence  of  the 
'  fleur-de-lis '  of  glorious  France,  is  not  Ireland  my 
country,  and  my  first  love  due  to  Erin,  my  mother,  the 
idol  of  my  soul  ?  Yes,  my  country,"  he  continued,  in 
soliloquy,  "from  this  hour  forward,. my  sword  and  my 
life   are  at  your  service.     While  this  right  hand  has 


136  THE      PROPHET      OF 

power  to  strike  down  the  meanest  of  thy  tyrants,  or  to 
shield  the  humblest  of  thy  sons  or  daughters,  thou  shalt 
never  want  an  avenger  or  a  protector.  Farewell,  my 
commission  !  farewell,  France  !  farewell,  the  favor  of  his 
most  Christian  majesty  !  Henceforth  I  am  thine,  Erin 
of  the  silver  streams  and  emerald  hills  ;  and  whether  as 
rapparee,  rebel,  or  felon,  I  shall  serve  thee  like  a  loyal 
son  and  true  knight,  so  help  me  God  ! " 

While  these  thoughts  occupied  his  mind,  the  Captain 
had  just  advanced  so  far  on  his  journey  as  to  place  him 
on  a  line  with  the  little  town  above  mentioned  ;  and 
passing  by  the  ruin  of  an  old  castle  called  "  Holly 
Mount,"  which  stood  on  his  left,  he  perceived,  by  the 
faint  light  of  a  waning  moon  just  rising,  that  a  party  of 
horsemen  and  a  carriage  were  approaching.  They  were 
just  on  an  eminence  of  the  road  called  "Barna  na- 
Guihe,"  or.  "  Wind-gap,"  when  his  keen  eye  perceived 
them  against  the  now  brightening  horizon  ;  and,  after 
having  appeared  like  a  vision,  they  soon  were  lost  in  the 
shadows  of  the  hill.  Talcing  them  for  a  party  of  yeo- 
manry, he  thought  it  prudent  to  turn  his  horse  aside  ; 
and,  having  dismounted,  he  sheltered  himself  and  his 
faithful  animal  on  one  side  of  the  old  castle,  to  avoid 
being  observed  by  those  who  approached,  whoever  they 
were.  Having  hitched  his  horse  to  a  stump  of  an  alder- 
tree  that  grew  from  a  crevice  in  the  old  ruin,  and  draw- 
ing out  his  watch  to  learn  the  hour  by  the  feeble  light 


X 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  137 

of  the  moon,  his  attention  was  instantly  arrested  by  an 
angry  discussion  which,  as  he  imagined,  issued  from 
under  the  ground  beneath  his  feet !  He  placed  his  ear 
close  to  the  earth,  to  learn  what  the  voices  were  or  what 
the  purport  of  their  confused  debate,  when  there  was  a 
sudden  pause,  and  loud  laughter  seemed  to  succeed 
articulate  voices.  Creeping  on  his  "  four-alls "  to  the 
road-side,  he  could  perceive  that  the  cavalcade  which 
he  had  previously  observed  were  now  passing  by  under 
the  very  shadow  of  the  old  castle,  and  he  was  aston- 
ished to  learn  that,  though  their  pace  was  a  quick  and 
hurried  one,  they  made  no  noise,  but  glided  along  as  if 
the  horses  had  no  feet. 

"  Is  this  a  fairy  land  ?  "  he  whispered  to  himself, 
"  or  are  my  senses  imposed  upon  by  some  mocking 
demon  of  these  dreary  hills  ?  There  are  articulate 
voices  issuing  from  the  earth,  and  laughter,  as  if  to 
scorn  my  attempt  to  catch  at  their  meaning  ;  and  here 
are  a  carriage  and  horses  gliding  rapidly  along  a  hard 
road,  without  making  the  slightest  noise  ! "  Creeping 
closer  to  the  road,  however,  the  mystery  was  soon  re- 
solved ;  for  he  heard  the  riders  conversing  in  intelligi- 
ble though  whispering  tones,  and  he  could  see  that  the 
horses'  hoofs  and  the  carriage-wheels  were  heavily  and 
securely  muffled.  "  Ha,  ha  !  "  he  said  to  himself  ;  "  I 
see  now  what  you  are  up  to,  my  would-be  fairies.  You 
are  some  loyal  guards  in  escort  of  some  cowardly  lord, 


138  THE      P  R  0  P  H  E  T      O  F 

who  is  afraid  to  ride  by  daylight  ;  and  to  escape  the 
just  vengeance  of  some  outraged  or  injured  peasant,  you 
travel  at  midnight,  and  with  muffled  wheels  and  hoofs  ! 
Perhaps  you  are  wise.  I  will  not  interrupt  you,  how- 
ever ;   so  pass  on,  gentlemen." 

Returning  back  again  to  where  his  horse  was  secured, 
he  not  only  heard  the  voices  anew,  but  could  hear  dis- 
tinctly what  was  said  ;  and  from  the  speeches,  and  toasts, 
and  songs,  that  issued  from  the  ruins  of  "  Cuslawn  a 
Cullen,"  "  Holly  Castle,"  he  concluded  that,  instead  of 
a  conclave  of  fairies,  he  had  fallen  in  with  one  of  Crop- 
pies ;  and  that  the  potteen  was  freely  used  among  them, 
he  concluded  from  the  speeches  that  were  made  and  the 
toasts  that  were  proposed.  "Fill  yeer  glasses,"  said 
one  sharp  voice  ;  "  fill  to  the  brim.  Here's  to  the  sowl 
of  Father  O'Donnell,  God  rest  him,  and  confushiun  to 
his  inemies  !  "  "  Amen  !  "  followed  from  about  twenty 
voices. 

"  What's  the  time  o'  night,  Gineral,"  said  another, 
who  appeared  to  be  the  guard  or  watchman '  of  this 
troop. 

"  Just  half-past  eleven  precisely,"  answered  the  Gen- 
eral. 

"  All  right.  In  one  hour  more,  boys,  we'll  have  the 
murderers.  Look  to  your  flints  and  blades,"  replied  one 
who  acted  as  his  lieutenant. 

"  Come,  let  us  have  a  song  to  shorten  the  night/* 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  139 

said  another,   commencing  to  practise  his  own   coun- 
sel. 

"  The  gladiathur, 

Bould  and  daring, 

From  night  to  morning, 

To  watch  the  tower."  « 

"  Silence,  I  say,"  cried  the  General.  "  No  songs,  no 
sono-s,  I  tell  you.  All  must  be  '  sub  silentio.'  That  is 
to  say,  '  Ultra  posse  non  est  esse.'  'Is  deccur  garrie 
cuir  a  sa  thar  na  besse.'  '  It  is  hard  to  hunt  a  hare 
out  of  a  hareless  bush.'  " 

"  Bravo,  Gineral  !  Here  is  to  your  high  larned 
tongue.  It  is  yourself  will  give  the  orders — will  make 
King  George  quake.     Three  cheers  to  the  Gineral  !  " 

"No  songs,  I  say,"  repeated  the  General.  "'Dixi/ 
that  is  my  hight  behest." 

"  No  son^s,  no  songs,"  cried  several  voices. 

"  Well,  then,"  cried  the  disappointed  songster,  "  let 
us  have  a  '  skial  feniaght,'  '  a  story  of  ancient  times/  " 

"  '  Concede,'  of  my  own  power,  you  may  amuse  your- 
selves with  a  tale  or  legend  in  a  low  appropriate  tone  of 
voice,  but  with  no  songs,  or  uproarious  confabulations. 
Do  you  mind  ?  " 

"Glory,  Gineral,  to  your  own  soul.  ' Dieu  go  dough 
loth.'     '  God  for  ever  with  you.' J* 

"  Come,  thin,  the  story  ;  the  story.  Come,  O'Kaf- 
ferty,  you  are  a  new  comer.  It  is  your  turn  now  to 
begin.     Shule  lath,  c  Come  on.'  " 


140  THE      PROPHET     OF 

"  Oh,  axcuse  me,  gintlemin,  axcuse  me." 
"No  axcuse,  l  Ma  JBonghal,'  no  axcuse;  tbe  Gineral 
orders." 

"  Well,  the  only  story  I  have  is  a  thrue  one." 
"All  the  betther.  So  much  best.  Silence,  boys, 
till  we  hear  the  story  ;  not  a  word  out  of  yeer  mouths." 
As  the  story  would  be  too  long  to  put  into  this  chap- 
ter, and  as  it  will  require  a  separate  chapter  for  itself, 
we  may  as  well  finish  this  by  saying  that  the  "  General" 
of  this  nightly  party  of  Croppies  was  a  schoolmaster 
named  Walsh,  called  by  the  peasantry  "  Shaivn  Kaum" 
or  "Crooked  Jack,"  from  the  deformity  of  his  body  ;  and 
that  by  his  pretended  knowledge  of  military  tactics,  and 
his  recital  of  the  persecutions  which  he  said  he  suffered 
in  the  North  of  Ireland  from  the  Orangemen,  he  was 
chosen  by  the  peasantry  as  a  leader,  and  all  confidence 
reposed  in  his  patriotism  and  virtue.  The  false  state- 
ment, too,  that  he  was  intended  for  the  priesthood,  which 
vocation  he  was  obliged  to  relinquish  in  consequence  of 
his  sufferings  for  the  "glorious  cause,"  as  he  called  it, 
added  to  his  chance  of  establishing  himself  in  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people.  Being  somewhat  of  a  classical 
hedge-school  master,  he  got  the  sons  of  the  middle  and 
better  classes  of  the  peasantry  into  his  power  ;  but  when 
his  low  habits  of  drunkenness  and  dissipation,  repressed 
for  a  time,  began  to  be  known,  he  was  turned  out  of  the 
farmers'  houses,  and  afterwards  turned  spy,  betrayed  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  141 

confidence  of  the  peasantry,  took  the  government  "  blood- 
money/'  and  brought  desolation  and  woe  into  those 
families  to  whose  charity  and  hospitality  he  owed  his 
elevation  from  poverty  and  degradation,  to  a  position  of 
comparative  comfort  and  respectability,  had  he  not  the 
abandoned  soul  of  a  traitor,  and  the  cursed  tongue  of  a 
hired  perjurer.  As  we  shall  have  occasion  to  refer  to 
him  more  than  once  in  the  subsequent  part  of  this  work, 
we  dismiss  for  the  present,  with  these  few  remarks,  this 
perjured  Synan,  who  was  no  doubt  deputed  by  the 
government  of  the  day,  to  ingratiate  himself  into  the 
favor  of  the  people,  for  the  purposes  of  treachery  and 
betrayal. 


142  THE      PKOPHET      OF 


CHAPTEE    XII. 

PAUDEEN     O'RAFFERTY'S     STORY. 

"  Once  on  a  time,  as  that  famous  Comiaught  man 
Mactough,  or  Saint  Coleman  " 

"  Connaught  man,  Inagh,"  cried  twenty  voices. 
"  Sliure  Connaught  never,  gave  birth  to  such  a  great 
saint." 

"  Hush,  men,"  interposed  the  General ;  "  did  I  not 
ordher  ye  to  make  no  distinction  between  Munster, 
Leinster,  Ulster  or  Connaught,  designated  in  the  learned 
language  of  my  classical  lore  Mononia,  Ulidia,  Ultonia, 
and  Connactia  ?     Go  on,  O'Rafferty,  my  boy,  go  on." 

"  Once  on  a  time  that  holy  Saint  Coleman  was  out 
on  a  preaching  retreat  near  the  sea-shore  of  Ouraun 
More,  and  the  people  of  five  counties  were  listening  to 
his  holy  words  and  sublime  prophecies.  Well,  so  great 
was  the  desire  to  hear  his  reverence  speaking  so  grand 
intirely,  and  so  greedy  were  the  congregation  in  devour- 
ing the  wholesome  food  of  the  soul  that  fell  from  his 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  J.  43 

lips,  that  they  forgot  their  bodies  altogether ;  begor,  a 
thing  that  is  seldom  forgot  nowadays,  but  '  Faug  a 
mead  sliude  mar  a  tlia  ska,'  'Let  that  be  now/  Well, 
the  crowds  of  people  were  almost  dead  of  hunger,  and 
they  had  no  water  to  drink,  except  the  salt  sea-water 
that  dashed  against  the  rocks  of  the  shore. 

"In  a  neighboring  castle  in  the  county  of  Galway, 
there  lived  a  cousin-german  of  the  saint,  who  was  just 
after  marriage,  for  it  was  about  shrove-tide,  and,  contrary 
to  the  Church  law,  he  was  going  to  have  his  grand  wed- 
ding feast  on  Ash  Wednesday.  Although  being  near 
related  to  the  saint,  this  prince  did  not  care  about  the 
Church  discipline,  nor  had  he  any  fancy  for  the  mortifi- 
cation or  preaching  of  the  holy  man.  I  suppose  from 
the  fact  that  he  had  prepared  the  grandest  dinner  that 
ever  was  seen  in  Ireland  on  Ash  Wednesday,  his 
princeship  must  be  a  Protestant  of  the  olden  times,  or 
if  not,  he  must  be  what  is  the  next  thing  to  it,  a  glut- 
tonous Pagan.  Be  that  as  it  may,  on  this  occasion, 
some  women  were  fainting  in  the  crowd  ;  some  men 
even  were  obliged  to  sit  down  on  the  strand  from  sheer 
fatigue,  and  some  gorsoons  were  almost  dead  of  hunger. 
With  that,  the  saint's  servant,  or  rather  his  clerk,  that 
used  to  serve  Mass  for  him,  went  up  to  the  rock  from 
which  he  was  preaching  to  the  multitude,  and  touching 
him  on  the  shoulder,  said,  '  Your  Reverence,  begor,  you 
have  preached  enough,  and  too  much,  already.' 


144  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

"  '  Oh,  you  heathen,  to  speak  so/  answered  the 
saint. 

"  '  Heathen  or  no  heathen/  said  the  clerk,  '  I  think 
as  you  have  been  feeding  the  soul  now  for  two  days,  it 
is  time  you  should  provide  one  meal,  at  any  rate,  for 
the  body.' 

"  '  Whist,  you  villain/  says  the  saint.  '  Is  it  interrupt- 
ing me  you  are,  in  the  middle  of  my  sermon  ? ' 

"  '  Whist, your  Eeverence/  says  the  clerk.  'God for- 
give me  for  speaking  back  to  your  Eeverence.  Do  you 
know  that  there  are  five  women  here  below  fainting,  and 
some  ten  or  twelve  gorsoons  almost  dead  of  hunger.  It's 
a  nice  story,  indeed,  to  see  people  dying  on  account  of 
preaching.' 

" '  Oh,  dear  ! '  says  the  saint,  'what  will  we  do  for 
them  to  keep  them  from  dying  of  hunger  ?  ' 

"  '  How  do  I  know,  your  Eeverence  ?  '  said  the  clerk  ; 
'yourself,  that  know  almost  all  things,  can  best  tell. 
There  is  your  cousin,  "  Brien  O'GIanna,"  who  has  as  many 
as  two  hundred  head  of  cattle,  one  hundred  stags,  an^L 
fowl  in  proportion,  to  dine  the  one  thousand  gentlemen 
and  their  ladies  whom  he  has  invited  to  his  wedding ; 
but,  the  divil  a  bit  of  it  he  would  give ' 


a  t 


Hold  your  cursing,  you  thief/  says  the  saint,  '  and 
pray  to  God,  and  he  will  send  relief.' 

"  '  Begor,  hunger  would  make  a  saint  curse/  said 
the  clerk  ;  '  your  Eeverence,  I  am  praying  this  two  days, 
and  that  did  not  fill  my  belly.' 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  145 


<i< 


'  Hold  your  tongue,  you  graceless  fellow/  said  the 
saint.  '  Go  on  your  knees,  men  and  brethren/  he  cried, 
and  that  great  crowd  obeyed  hirn  like  one  man.  And  a 
'  Dieu  More  !'  (Great  God  !)  they  were  not  two  minutes 
on  their  knees,  when  about  three  hundred  large  dishes 
of  smoking  meat  rushed  along  the  country  over  hedges 
and  ditches,  all  in  a  row,  through  the  air  !  Then  they 
fell  to  ;  although  it  was  a  fast  day,  the  saint  gave  them 
all  a  dispensation,  and  every  man,  woman  and  child  eat 
their  fill,  and  more,  that  time  at  least. 

"'But  ' Dieu  le  cour  cuin!'  (the  Lord  help  us!) 
what's  this  I  see  !'  exclaimed  the  saint ;  'a  whole  army 
of  mailed  warriors  racing  like  the  wind  after  the  dishes  ! 
Ah,  the  wretches  \  they  loved  the  dishes  more  than 
God's  law,  or  the  hearing  of  his  word,  and  now  they 
come  half  drunk  to  cut  us  to  atoms  for  the  affront  of 
depriving  them  of  their  forbidden  dishes.' 

u  The  saint's  cousin,  the  prince,  was  thp  first  of  the 
pursuers  who  came  up,  and  looking  daggers  at  the  saint, 
he  threatened  his  life,  and  that  of  all  his  hearers,  for 
robbing  him  of  his  grand  banquet,  and  disturbing  his 
wedding  'by  magic/  as  he  said.  'Nonsense,  man/ 
cried  the  saint,  *  you  can  get  another  great  dinner  ready 
easily,  and  return  home  now  in  the  name  of  God,  and 
God  will  bless  you.' 

((  •  The  divil  a  home  I'll  go/  answered  the  lord,  'till 
7 


146  THE   -PROPHET      OF 

I  take  the  life  of  you,  and  some  of  your  stupid  super- 

» 
stitious  hearers/ 

"  '  0,  God  forbid  I '  says  the  saint,    '  Would  you  allow 

so  many  people  as  are  here  to  die  of  hunger  ?  or  do  you 

grudge  them  one  good  meal,  and  disgrace  the  ancient 

hospitality   of  holy   Ireland  ?     Oh,   fye,  fye  1    brother, 

fye!' 

" '  But  whether  God  forbid  or  not/  says  the  wicked 
lord,  '  I  order  it.  Men/  he  said,  addressing  the  mailed 
knights,  '  take  this  troublesome  saint  prisoner.  I  will 
provide  for  him  in  my  castle  dungeon,  where  he  may 
have  time  enough  to  pray,  and  kill  a  couple  of  hundreds 
of  his  hearers,  and  let  us  drive  the  rest  prisoners  to  our 
castle.' 

"  All  drew  their  swords,  and  made  a  rush  towards 
where  the  saint  was,  when  he  lifted  his  hands  to  heaven, 
and  having  prayed  to  God,  he  cried,  '  I  forbid  ye  to 
move  an  inph  ; '  and  oh,  wonders  !  their  hands  stood 
stiff  with  their  swords  lifted  in  the  air,  and  not  a  man 
of  them  could  move  a  step,  nor  stir,  till,  after  being  kept 
there  two  hours,  listening  to  the  saint's  sermon,  they 
were  all  converted,— the  tears  run  down  like  '  shri- 
liaivns,'  or  rills,  on  their  faces  and  armor ;  and,  at  last, 
by  solemn  promises  to  do  penance,  and  spend  the  whole 
lent  on  one  meal,  without  any  meat  at  all,  the  saint 
prayed  again  to  God,  and  the  knights'  arms  were  loosed, 
and  they  returned  home  better  men  than  they  came. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  147 

"  This  is  my  story,  and  a  thrue  one  it  is ;  and  I  hope 
when  we  fight  against  the  Sassenaghs,  their  swords  and 
hands  will  stand  stiff  in  the  air,  like  those  of  the  ene- 
mies of  Saint  Coleman  !  " 

"  Mr.  O'Rafferty's  story  !  Hip  !  hip  !  hurrah  !  "  cried 
the  General.  "  That  certainly  was  very  interesting.  I 
often  heard  tell  of  the  story  of  "  bohur  na  mease," 
c  the  road  the  dishes  took/  but  never  before  heard  such 
a  particular  relation  of  it.  Who  will  favor  us  with  the 
next  story  ?  We  have  some  time  yet  to  dispose  of  ere 
the  hour  of  action  arrives." 

Then  commenced  a  regular  altercation  among  them 
about  the  honor  of  being  the  narrator  of  the  next  and 
the  truest  story,  when,  at  length,  upon  an  appeal  to 
the  General,  one  Mickey  Lileash,  or  Cat  Lillis,  had 
the  honor  of  being  preferred. 

"  In  the  county  of  Galway,  near  the  boundary  of 
Clare,  as  Saint  Patrick  and  his  disciple  Benignus  were 
once  travelling  on  foot,  having  been  led  astray  by  the 
fog  that  prevailed  during  the  day,  they  lost  their  way 
and  were  benighted.  At  length  they  came  to  a  miller's 
house,  named  '  Leibaun/  who  happened  not  to  be  of 
the  Milesian  race,  and  was  besides  a  pagan,  and  de- 
manded the  usual  hospitality  of  food  and  protection  for 
the  night.  The  savage  miller  abruptly  refused  them, 
and  told  them  in  a  very  rough  voice,  that,  if  they  did 
not  retire  from  his  premises,  he  would  soon  cause  them 


148  THE      PROPHET      OF 

to  repent  of  their  assurance  in  asking  any  favor  from 
him,  who  had  none,  he  said,  of  the  blood  of  Milesius  in 
his  veins,  but  who,  on  the  contrary,  detested  his  race 
and  institutions. 

"'Well/  said  St.  Patrick,  'as  we  are  so  fatigued 
that  we  cannot  go  much  farther,  and  as  we  must 
take  to  the  woods  and  caves  for  the  shelter  you  re- 
fuse, in  the  name  of  God  allow  us  to  leave  this  pack- 
age, consisting  of  a  few  articles  of  clothing  and  the 
vestments  of  our  profession,  to  remain  under  your  roof 
till  morning.' 

"  '  You  may  leave  that,  if  you  wish/  answered  the 
sulky  pagan  ;  '  but  take  yourselves  away  from  my 
presence  as  fast  as  you  can,  or  my  wolf-dogs  will  be 
sent  to  escort  you.  I  suspect  you  are  some  of  those 
superstitious  priests  who  we  hear  are  come  to  disturb 
our  ancient  established  religion  in  this  country.' 

"  •  We  are  servants  of  the  King  of  heaven/  an- 
swered the  saint.     '  Good  nicdit ! ' 

o 

"  So  saying,  he  left  the  house,  after  having  hung  up 
the  package  containing  the  vestments  on  a  wooden  peg 
or  pin  that  protruded  from  the  wall  of  the  house.  The 
pagan  rejoiced  that  they  left  the  parcel,  for  he  thought, 
as  the  strangers  must  necessarily  perish  by  the  wolves 
or  from  the  coldness  of  the  night,  whatever  the  pack- 
age contained  would  become  his  lawful  prize.  During 
the  night,  before  he  retired  to  bed,  the  last  thing  the 


THE      KUINED      ABBEY.  149 

miller  heard  of  his  visitors  was  the  chanting  of  hymns 
and  sacred  songs,  with  which  they  caused  the  neighbor- 
ing forests  and  cliffs  to  resound,  and  to  his  utter  aston- 
ishment, he  concluded  that  the  strangers  were  not  only 
alive,  but  the  usual  howling  of  the  savage  wolves  was 
unheard,  as  if  they  were  awed  by  the  charming  influ- 
ence of  the  sacred  melody  in  which  the  two  men  of  God 
celebrated  the  praises  of  their  Lord. 

"  On  the  following  morning  the  saint  sent  his  clerk 
for  the  vestments,  to  say  mass  in  a  beautiful  cave  which 
they  discovered  by  the  daylight,  not  far  from  their 
resting-place,  when,  lo  !  to  his  utter  wonder,  there  was 
neither  house  nor  mill,  nor  any  sign  that  there  was  ever 
a  house  ;  but  the  vestments  he  found  hung  on  the  self- 
same peg  in  the  air  on  which  he  had  placed  them  the 
night  previous.  Since  that  time,  there  is  only  an  awful 
gulf  in  the  place  where  the  miller  and  his  house  and 
family  sunk  into  the  bowels  of  the  earth,  in  punish- 
ment of  his  inhospitality  and  impiety  to  God  and  his 
servant.  This  is  the  origin  of  the  name  of  'Paultee 
Le  Bawn,'  or  '  Le  Bawn's  Gulf,'  which  that  place  has 
been  called  ever  since,  and  which  is  a  well-known  tra- 
dition of  the  people  of  that  country.  This  is  my 
story,  and  as  '  Le  Bawn '  sunk  for  refusing  to  give 
hospitality  to  holy  Patrick  and  his  disciple,  so  may 
sink  all  those  who  would  persecute  the  sons  of  that 
glorious  saint  ! " 


150  THE      PROPHET      OF 

Loud  acclamations  and  copious  drafts  succeeded  these 
stories  of  the  Whiteboy  shanahies,  and  it  was  some 
minutes  ere  the  Captain's  voice,  notwithstanding  his 
Latin  quotations,  could  either  be  heard  or  obeyed. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  151 


,     CHAPTER    XIII. 

GOING    FROM    THE    SMOKE    INTO    THE    FIRE. 

While  the  Captain  remained  a  listener  by  the  ruin  of 
the  "  Old  Castle,"  partly  detained  by  his  curiosity,  and 
partly  by  his  doubts  as  to  whether  or  not  he  should 
seek  direction  from  some  of  his  obstreperous  fellow- 
rebels  as  to  the  safest  route  towards  the  place  of  his 
immediate  destination,  the  cry  of  "  To  arms  !  to  arms  ! " 
rung  on  his  ear  ;  and  ere  he  could  again  reach  the  back 
of  his  "  gallant  gray,"  a  dozen  rude  hands  were  on  his 
collar  ;  and  the  shouts  of  "  We  have  him  now  !  here  is 
one  of  'um,  at  any  rate ! "  brought  the  leader  of  the 
band  of  desperadoes  from  his  cavern  to  the  upper  air. 

"  Yes,  Captain,  we  have  one  of  the  tyrants,  at  any 
rate.  Your  bread  is  baked  for  certain.  Where  are  the 
rest  of  your  associates  ? — come,  tell  at  once,  or  you  die 
this  minute — speak  out  instantly  ! " 

All  these  and  several  other  abrupt  and  contradictory 


152  THE      PROPHET      OF 

questions,  commands  and  threats,  were  uttered  ere 
O'Donnell  found  time  or  a  chance  to  say,  "  Be  quiet, 
my  friends,  and  I  shall  tell  you  all/' 

Aye,  frinds,  indeed  !  how  frindly  you  are  now, 
you  villain  of  a  pujured  judge  !  On  your  knees  at 
once ! " 

"  Give  me  time,  and  don't  choke  me,  and  I  will  give 
you  a  full  and  satisfactory  account  of  myself." 

"Boivly  doeg,  marrig !','  " strike — burn — hill  !"  cried 
the  drunken  and  infuriated  miscreants  simultaneously. 

"  There  must  be  some  mistake  here.  I  am  not  the 
man  you  seek  at  all." 

"  We  know  better.  Did  you  not  dine  at  Lord 
Barterborough's  ?  " 

"  No,  I  assure  yon,  never." 

"  Oh  !  do  you  hear  ?  What  brought  you  this  road, 
then,  at  this  hour  ?" 

'<  Sure  you  won't  let  me  tell  you.  Call  your  Cap- 
tain, as  you  style  him,  and  I  will  tell  him  my  whole 
history." 

"  Oh,  you  will  indeed  !  Come  follow  us."  He  was 
now  ushered  into  the  presence  of  the  Captain,  after  hav- 
ing been  forced  through  a  circular  hole  in  the  wall  of 
the  castle,  within  about  a  foot  of  the  ground  outside, 
but  as  many  as  eight  or  ten  feet  from  the  floor  of  the 
cellar,  in  which  the  Captain  and  his  guards  were  assem- 
bled.    The  Captain  of  Croppies,  assuming  as  much  dig- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  153 

nity  as  was  consistent  with  his  rather  tattered  habili- 
ments, which  were  kept  from  falling  off  his  body  by  a 
sort  of  belt,  or  rather  cord  of  green  baize  or  flannel, 
which  girded  him  tightly  around  the  middle,  under  which 
he  wore  a  case  of  pistols,  and  a  silver  hilted  dagger,  now 
commenced  a  minute  scrutiny  of  his  prisoner.  His  in- 
spection was  frequently  interrupted  by  the  extinguishing 
of  the  "  slishogues,"  or  pine  bog- chips,  which  served 
him  and  his  associates  in  place  of  candles,  and  which  it 
took  the  whole  care  of  his  most  active  attendants  to  keep 
snuffed  and  burning.  After  a  solemn  pause,  and  before 
allowing  his  prisoner  leave  to  speak  a  word,  this  mid- 
night Rhadamanthus,  heaving  a  sigh  and  making  a  speech 
on  the  responsibility  that  devolved  on  him  in  virtue  of 
his  office  of  chosen  leader  of  a  trusty  band  of  patriots, 
at  length  pronounced  his  horrid  decree,  and  "  that  sen- 
tence is,  that  you  must  die  within  one  hour.  You 
killed  Father  O'Donnell." 

"I  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  his  " 

"  Yes,  you  and  your  friends,  associates,  and  fellow- 
tyrants  ;  you  must  therefore  die  the  death." 

"  You  are  under  a  grievous  mistake.  I  neither  con- 
sented to  his  unjust  sentence,  nor  has  Father  O'Donnell 
suffered  death,  as  you  erroneously  imagine." 

:'  Hold,  sir,  hold  your  tongue  ;  have  I  not  seen  his 
head  on  the  accursed  spike  of  the  Saxon,  in  the  town  of 
Cloughmore  ?     Did  I  not  witness  the  thunder,  wind  and 


154  THE      PROPHET      OF 

lightning,  the  signs  of  Heaven's  displeasure  that  envel- 
oped the  atmosphere  and  the  earth  alike  in  their  terrible 
and  wrathful  mantle,  at  the  very  hour  of  his  execution. 
The  very  elements,  the  inanimate  creation  stood  in 
mourning,  and  gave  expression  to  their  loud  and  wrath- 
ful lamentations  at  the  foul  murder  of  England,  while 
you  and  your  associate  judges  and  sheriffs  were  feasting 
as  if  at  a  wedding,  at  this  your  triumph  over  the  poor 
down-trodden  Celt.  Death,  death,  sir,  is  too  mild  a 
punishment  for  the  vile  execution  of  an  O'Donnell,  by 
your  guilty  hands." 

The  whole  party  applauded  this  cruel  speech  of  a 
half-crazy  and  drunken  desperado,  and  the  sad  reality 
stared  the  Captain  of  the  "  Chasseurs  de  Vincennes"  in 
the  face,  that  he  had  escaped  from  the  meshes  of  English 
cruelty  and  injustice,  to  become  entangled  in  the  snares 
of  a  lawless  and  desperate  band  of  Croppies,  in  compa- 
rison to  whose  summary  and  cruel  sentence  of  death, 
that  of  English  injustice  itself  would  have  been  prefer- 
able. All  his  protestations  of  innocence  of  the  crime 
laid  to  his  charge,  of  being  the  judge  who  sentenced  his 
own  brother  to  death,  were  unavailing.  All  his  argu- 
ments to  prove  his  identity  as  Charles  O'Donnell,  only 
provoked  the  scornful  laughter  of  "  Shawn  Kaum,"  and 
his  midnight  gang.  The  dreadful  moment  now  ap- 
proached, when  three  of  the  best  shots  were  chosen  to 
execute  the  summary  sentence.     The  Croppy  Chief  took 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  155 

great  praise  to  himself,  for  the  generosity  he  exhibited, 
in  permitting  his  victim  to  die  a  soldier's  death,  instead 
of  being  hanged  like  a  dog,  and  he  promised  O'Donnell 
the  favor  of  a  decent  burial  in  the  neat  green  mound  in 
front  of  the  old  castle,  for  the  generosity  of  the  latter  in 
bequeathing  him  his  gold  watch.  Being  asked  if  he  had 
any  commands  to  communicate  to  his  friends,  O'Don- 
nell drew  a  small  memorandum  book  and  pencil  from 
his  breast  coat  pocket,  and  wrote  a  few  lines  to  his 
brother  Thomas,  acquainting  him  of  his  own  sad  fate, 
telling  him  where  his  body  might  probably  be  found,  and 
begging  of  him,  in  charity,  to  procure  for  his  soul  the 
suffrages  of  religion.  Having  discharged  this,  his  last 
earthly  duty,  as  he  had  every  reason  to  believe,  he  knelt, 
and  with  his  hands  crossed  on  his  breast,  poured  forth 
his  fervent  prayer  to  his  Creator  for  mercy  and  pardon 
for  the  sins  and  transgressions  of  his  life.  The  execu- 
tioners had  their  firelocks  presented,  and,  standing  within 
three  yards  of  their  victim's  breast,  waited  for  the  signal 
of  "  fire "  from  their  leader,  when  a  voice  of  one  ex- 
claiming, "  you  murderers,  desist,"  startled  the  whole 
party,  and  a  horseman,  brandishing  a  heavy  whip,  rushed 
into  this  mad  circle  of  inebriate  half-savages. 

"  Father  Murphy  ! "  muttered  the  Croppy  Chief, 
whom  the  priest  recognized  as  the  teacher  of  a  country 
grammar-school,  of  a  neighboring  parish.  "  Great  God  ! 
is  it  you  whom  I  find  presiding  over  a  scene  like  this, 
Walsh  ?  "  said  the  priest. 


156  THE      PROPHET      OF 

"  I  was  but  a  very  unwilling  actor  here,"  rejoined  the 
false-hearted  Croppy,  "  but  this  being  one  of  the  judges 
who  condemned  Father  O'Donnell,  the  boys  here  were 
determined  to  have  blood  for  blood." 

"  Scoundrel,  what  evidence  had  you,  that  this  gen- 
tleman is  one  of  those  judges  ?  Know  that  you  were 
going  to  murder  the  brother  of  him  whose  death  you 
pretended  to  revenge,  and  that,  for  the  death  of  one  who 
is  now  living  and  well." 

"  Oh,  murther,  did  we  not  see  the  head  of  our 
priest  on  the  spike  over  the  court-house,  at  Cloughmore  ?  " 

"  Nonsense,  sirrah,  nonsense.  I  fear  your  head  will 
be  soon  there,  for  your  crimes  deserve  such  a  fate. 
Let  me  find  you  away  from  this  neighborhood,  off  to 
your  native  north,  within  one  week  from  this  day, 
Walsh,  or  I  shall  myself  inform  on  you,  and  give  you 
up  to  justice.  And  you  men,"  he  said  addressing  his 
deluded  followers,  "renounce  this  dangerous  man's 
company,  or  he  will  hang  you  all  some  day.  Come, 
now  on  your  knees,  and  ask  this  gentleman's  forgive- 
ness for  the  unpardonable  injury  and  insults  you  have 
offered  him." 

So  they  did,  and  after  having  faithfully  promised  the 
priest  that  they  would  renounce  "  Shawn  Kaum's  "  lead- 
ership, and  bury  their  arms,  till  some  national  occasion 
demanded  their  use,  the  Croppies  separated  for  their 
respective  homes,  and  the  Captain  and  his  Keverend 
friend  took  the  road  towards  Knockmeldown. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  157 

"  My  God,  how  providential  you  came  by  this  old 
ruin  to-night.  I  should  have  been  by  this  time  decently 
buried/'  said  the  Captain,  breaking  the  silence,  which 
was  observed  for  about  half  an  hour  between  them. 

"  I  shall  never  cease  to  thank  God  for  this  provi- 
dence," said  the  priest.  "  But  how  dreadful  must  have 
been  your  sufferings  while  in  the  hands  of  such  barba- 
rians, and  especially  when  you  were  on  the  very  eve, 
almost  in  the  very  act  of  being  murdered  !  " 

"  The  sensations  of  my  soul  were  dreadful,  indeed, 
especially  when  I  felt  that  I  was  going  to  suffer  by  mis- 
take, and  by  the  hands  of  those  misguided  men,  who  if 
they  knew  me,  would  die  to  save  me. 

"To  die  on  the  field  of  battle,  surrounded  by  brave 
comrades  amidst  the  dazzling  pomps  of  glorious  war,  or 
even  to  die  by  the  rope  of  our  hereditary  Saxon  foe,  in 
defence  of  a  principle,  or  to  perpetuate  the  wholesome 
hatred  of  their  detestable  usurpation  of  our  land, — either 
of  these  deaths  would  be  charming  happiness  in  com- 
parison with  my  sad  execution  by  a  set  of  drunken  Crop- 
pies in  the  shadow  of  the  ruin  of  one  of  the  castles  of  my 
ancestors.  You  were  my  angel,  indeed  !  but  what 
brought  you  this  way,  may  I  ask,  at  this  hour  ?  " 

'  Well,  a  most  singular  succession  of  incidents.  It 
happened  yesterday  morning,  that  the  parish  priest,  our 
neighbor  of  St.  Molanafide's,  got  his  leg  broke  by  a  fall 
from  his  horse  ;  and  having  no  assistant,  he  wrote  to  our 
pastor,  Dr.  O'Healy,  to  beg  that  he  would  permit  my- 


158  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

self  or  Fogarty  to  attend  to  any  sick  calls  that  may 
come  from  his  people,  till  the  bishop  could  provide  for 
his  parish.  And  as  Providence  would  have  it,  about  two 
hours  ago  I  was  roused  by  a  peasant  to  inform  me  that 
his  wife  was  in  her  last  agony,  consequent  on  protracted 
confinement,  and  on  my  way  to  where  the  peasant  di- 
rected me,  I  somehow  or  other  lost  my  road,  notwith- 
standing my  knowledge,  as  I  thought,  of  every  by-road, 
and  almost  hut  of  this  mountain  district  !  It  is  to  this 
sick  call,  and  to  my  unaccountable  missing  of  the  more 
direct  road,  that  you  owe  your  delivery  without  a  doubt. 
Who  cannot  see  the  hand  of  God  in  the  affair  !  In  fact, 
O'Donnell,  you  must  be  destined  for  something  extraor- 
dinary, or  Providence  would  not  so  visibly  have  inter- 
posed in  your  behalf." 

"I  gratefully  acknowledge  God's  special  favor  and 
mercy  in  my  regard,  but  I  do  not  think  I  will  ever  be 
any  thing  but  an  unhappy  exile  from  my  beloved  home, 
the  sport  of  fortune,  and  the  representative  of  a  family 
doomed,  I  fear,  to  everlasting  obscurity  and  decay.  Tell 
me,  Father  John,  how  did  my  brother  feel  when  you  saw 
him  last  ?     Did  he  reach  the  '  Joan  d' Arc '  in  safety  ? 

"  Yes,  perfectly  so,  and  in  good  spirits.  I  went  with 
him  to  the  water's  edge,  and  saw  him  ascend  the  gallant 
vessel,  and  waited  till  the  brave  craft  flew,  like  a  fairy, 
over  the  smooth  sea.  But  that  dreadful  storm,  which 
soon  after  rose,  alarmed  me  much  about  the  fate  of  the 
<  little  bark.'" 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  159 

"  It  was  a  truly  awful  one,  I  am  told  ;  but  the  Cap- 
tain, Le  Barry,  is  an  experienced  sailor,  and  I  hope  they 
were  out  in  the  channel  ere  it  commenced." 

"  0  yes,  they  had  time  to  be,  but,  for  twenty  years, 
I  never  recollect  to  have  witnessed  such  a  hurricane 
while  it  lasted.  The  peasantry  interpreted  the  hurri- 
cane and  thunder  and  lightning  as  manifestations  of  di- 
vine displeasure,  on  account  of  the  perjury  committed  at 
Father  Senan's  trial ;  and  the  general  impression  is  that 
he  was  executed." 

'l  So  I  believe.  I  can  never  forget  your  kindness  to 
my  poor  brother,  Father  John,  and  I  trust  the  part  you 
acted  in  aiding  him  to  escape  his  pursuers  will  be  of  no 
prejudice  to  you  hereafter." 

"  Don't  mention  it,  my  dear  friend  ;  your  brother 
was  more  than  a  brother  to  me,  and  I  would  risk  my  life 
any  day  to  save  his.  It  is  not  very  clear  to  me,  however, 
that  I  will  not  have  some  little  difficulty  on  account  of 
having  accompanied  him  to  the  beach,  for  on  my  return 
back,  at  daybreak,  with  his  horse  and  my  own,  I  was 
met  by  that  perjured  renegade,  Sergeant  Mally,  who 
eyed  me  rather  suspiciously,  and  who,  I  am  sure,  reports 
every  thing  he  sees  or  hears  to  head-quarters,  for  he  is 
fishing  for  promotion." 

"  I  should  be  sorry,  but  you  must  count  on  my  aid  if 
ever  you  get  into  trouble  ;  and  though  now  in  trouble 
myself,  I  can  tell  you  that  I  may  not  be  long  so,  for  I 
Btand  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  French  king." 


160  THE     PROPHET      OF 

"  No  doubt,  no  doubt.  We  must  part  here  for  the 
present,  I  to  my  sick  call,  and  you  to  '  Fairy  Hill,'  I 
suppose.  Convey  any  commands  you  may  have  for  me 
through  that  brave  fellow,  O'Mara.     God  be  with  you."  ' 

And  off  started  Father  Murphy  to  his  sick  call,  and 
the  Captain  made  the  best  of  his  way  towards  the  resi- 
dence of  his  brother  Thomas,  or  rather  to  the  mountain 
in  its  vicinity. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  161 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

A      SAMPLE      OF      ENGLISH      "JUSTICE." 

On  approaching  the  town  of  Cloughmore,  the  Captain 
saw  the  necessity  of  extreme  caution,  to  avoid  being  re- 
captured by  the  enemy  ;  he,  therefore,  betook  himself  to 
the  house  of  O'Mara  on  the  hill-side,  ere  he  would  ven- 
ture to  return  to  the  cottage.  It  was  twilight,  and  the 
eastern  sky  began  to  reflect  the  crimson  rays  of  dawn, 
when,  just  as  he  dismounted  to  throw  down  a  gap  in  the 
stone  wall  that  crossed  the  entrance  of  the  "  boreen,"  or 
narrow  avenue  leading  to  the  farm  house  of  O'Mara, 
when  who  should  salute  him  with  a  "  good  morrow,  Cap- 
tain," but  "  the  enchanted  warrior  "  himself ! 

"  In  the  name  of  wonders,  O'Mara,  is  this  you,  or  is 
it  your  ghost  I  see  ?  "  exclaimed  the  Captain.  "  You 
have  not  been  nicknamed  '  the  enchanted  warrior'  I 
perceive  without  reason.  How  on  earth  did  you  get  back 
as  soon  as  I,  who  almost  flew,  so  rapidly  was  I  carried 
along  by  this  noble  animal  of  Tom's." 


162  THE      PEOPHET      OF 

"  I  am  no  ghost  you  may  be  sure,  Captain,  but  the 
same  l  old  three  and  four-pence '  that  I  was  when  we  met 
last  evening  at  the  battle  of  the  Nore.  You  got  the  start 
of  me  a  little,  sir,  or  I  would  have  been  here  sooner,  and 
then  off  to  the  cottage  where  I  expected  to  meet  you  to 
report  progress.  All  is  in  confusion  in  the  town  since 
the  return  of  some  dragoons,  who,  unwarned  by  the  ri- 
diculous tales  about  the  affair  at  Knockmeldown  Gap, 
report  your  having  been  rescued  by  a  large  force  of  rebels  ! 
The  lying  villains,  to  have  the  brass  to  make  such  a 
statement,  and  not  a  soul  present  with  me,  but  Cuddihy 
and  the  two  jackasses,  which,  to  say  the  truth,  contri- 
buted in  no  small  degree  to  our  glorious  victory  !  " 

"  Indeed  !  How  did  you  come  to  hear  these  re- 
ports, or  have  you  been  to  the  town  ?  " 

"  When  I  parted  with  you  after  the  rescue,  I  fell  in 
with  a  hackney- coach  man  returning  from  Dublin,  whom 
I  persuaded  to  give  me  a  ride,  on  account  of  the  danger 
which  I  represented  as  likely  to  occur  to  him  on  his 
risking  to  travel  alone,  through  such  a  disturbed  district. 
He  gladly  took  me  up  to  keep  him  company,  and  while 
at  the  hotel  to  bait  our  horses,  we  learned  the  facts 
which  I  have  stated,  and  that  martial  law  was  about  to 
be  proclaimed,  and  all  persons  under  suspicion  of  dis- 
loyalty were  to  be  imprisoned  till  things  should  become 
more  '  settled/  " 

"  "What  had  I  best  do  under  these  circumstances  ?  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  163 

"  Why,  let  us  come  in  first,  and  have  some  refresh- 
ments ;  you  must  be  both  hungry  and  tired,  and  putting 
the  mare,  my  "  colleen  das"  Seagull,  in  my  stable,  to 
feed  and  rest,  I  will  next  put  you  in  a  place  of  safety, 
where  you  will  be  secure  from  the  search  of  the  open 
foe,  and  the  treachery  of  secret  enemies.  This  moun- 
tain will  lend  us  its  friendly  shelter,  and  we  shall  be 
safe  while  under  its  screening  shadows.  We  shall  be 
as  well  off  as  the  hare  and  the  fox,  at  any  rate." 

"  As  you  order  it,  my  dear  friend." 

"  Well,  then,  hand  me  the  reins,  if  you  please,  and 
while  I  am  taking  care  of  '  Seagull/  go  you  in  and  see 
what  Nelly  has  ready,  and  if  she  has  any  thing  you  can 
cat  don't  wait  for  me,  but  commence  as  soon  as  you 
can." 

Nelly  had  not  only  a  good  repast  of  chickens  and 
ham,  with  some  greens,  ready  for  her  husband,  but  be- 
sides remained  up  all  night  to  keep  these  things  warm 
for  her  expected  guests.  She  courtesied  slightly,  but 
respectfully,  to  the  stranger,  as  he  entered,  asking  him 
if  he  was  the  gentleman  her  husband,  Terry,  expected 
last  night. 

"  Yes,  I  suppose,"  answered  the  Captain  ;  "  I  am 
brother  of  your  late  pastor,  Father  O'Donnell,  who,  I 
know  you  will  be  glad  to  learn,  has  escaped  the  hands 
of  his  cruel  persecutors." 

"  Thanks  be  to  God,  sir,  I  have  heard  of  that.     You 


164  THE      PROPHET      OF 

had  better  sit  down,  sir,"  she  continued,  "  fatigued,  and 
cold,  and  hungry,  as  you  must  be,  after  your  journey. 
You  didn't  see  this  man  of  ours  any  where,  sir  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  ma'am,  he  is  just  coming  in." 

"  He  is  becoming  a  great  stroller  of  late,  sir,  but  if 
it  be  for  the  good  of  the  poor  old  country,  we  must  not 
complain,"  said  this  patriotic  matron. 

Terry  soon  entered,  saluted  his  wife  with  a  "  God 
save  you,  Nell,"  and  sitting  down  to  the  table,  on  which 
was  spread  a  snow-white  home-made  bird's-eye  linen 
cloth,  two  large  blue  delf  plates,  and  in  the  centre,  on 
a  large  dish,  the  substantial  viands  above  mentioned ; 
and  after  crossing  himself,  and  saying  a  short  grace,  he 
helped  the  guest  and  himself  plentifully,  not  without  a 
few  compliments  on  Nelly's  cooking  and  care,  in  having 
them  in  such  nice  preparation  for  hungry  stomachs.  A 
o-ood  glass  of  genuine  potteen,  that  never  was  defiled 
by  a  gauger's  rule,  formed  the  only  dessert  of  their  sub- 
stantial meal.  Folding  up  the  remainder  of  the  ham 
and  chickens  in  a  large  coarse  towel,  and  taking  a  bot- 
tle of  the  "  mountain  dew,"  with  another  of  fresh  new 
milk,  and  grasping  his  rifle  and  powder-pouch,  and  giv- 
ing a  double-barrelled  fowling-piece  to  his  companion, 
Terry  bid  the  good  housewife  a  hasty  adieu,  and  made 
in  haste  for  the  base  of  the  western  peak  of  Knockmel- 
down,  followed  by  the  Captain. 

When  they  went  off,  the  matron  took  her  beads,  and 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  165 

said  an  additional  decade  on  them,  and  having  gently- 
crossed  herself,  and  sprinkling  the  holy  water  on  her 
children,  "  for,"  she  said,  kissing  them,  "  I  feel  some- 
thing in  my  mind  that  makes  me  sad,"  she  betook  her- 
self to  rest.  The  Captain  being  placed  in  security  by 
Terry,  he  returned  from  the  hiding-place  to  reconnoitre, 
and  had  only  proceeded  a  few  roods  towards  the  road, 
when  he  caught  sight  of  the  helmets  of  a  party  of  yeo- 
manry ascending  leisurely  towards  the  rock  of  "  Poul  na 
gour,"  the  scene  of  his  late  encounter  with  the  detach- 
ment of  dragoons.  He  narrowly  escaped  being  taken 
prisoner  by  them,  and  so  he  had  to  use  his  legs  to  es- 
cape them.  He  first  ran  in  a  direction  opposite  to  the 
one  he  intended  to  take,  because  it  was  harder  for  their 
pursuit  ;  but,  when  he  reached  some  hundreds  of  yards 
on  the  hill's  side,  he  took  a  south-western  course,  and  be- 
ing favored  by  the  descent,  he  gained  ground  on  his 
pursuers,  and  managed  to  place  the  same  knoll  by  which 
he  escaped  from  his  former  pursuers,  between  himself 
and  them,  and  while  covered  by  the  hillock  he  instantly 
regained  his  den. 

"The  enchanted  warrior,  again,  by  Jove!"  ex- 
claimed the  officer  of  the  party.  "  There  is  no  use  in 
searching  for  him,  but  I  mistake  much  if  I  do  not  know 
who  he  is." 

This  troop  of  yeomen  was  commanded  by  Sheriff 
Juggler,  who  volunteered  to  conduct  the  yeomanry  to 


166  THE      PROPHET      OF 

Dungarvan,  whither  they  were  on  route  on  account  of 
the  rumors  of  invasion  which  prevailed,  since  it  became 
known  that  a  French  vessel  was  seen  in  the  offing  at  that 
seaport.  Having  consulted  for  a  short  time  with  one  of 
his  subalterns,  within  hearing,  and  almost  over  the  heads 
of  the  hiders,  a  dozen  men  under  command  of  a  Ser- 
geant Bipley,  were  despatched  to  O'Mara's  house,  while 
the  commander  himself,  with  the  main  body,  remained 
stationed  on  the  knoll,  to  see  if  the  "  game,"  as  Juggler 
called  him,  would  uncover  again.  When  Terry  heard 
the  orders  given  regarding  the  search  of  his  own  house, 
it  was  with  difficulty  that  he  was  prevailed  on  by  the 
Captain  to  refrain  from  rising  up  from  his  hiding-place, 
and  running  to  the  defence  of  his  wife  and  children,  for 
his  experience  told  him  what  bloodthirsty  villains  they 
were.  He  kept  quiet,  however,  for  the  sake  of  him 
whose  life  he  valued  before  his  own  ;  and  in  about  half 
an  hour  a  volley  was  fired  by  the  yeomanry,  and  after  a 
cheer  of  God  save  the  king,  their  horses'  tramp  was 
heard  moving  off  from  the  scene. 

The  fatigue  of  the  previous  night  and  the  day  be- 
fore now  overcame  Terry  and  his  companion,  and  in  a 
few  moments  they  were  both  sound  asleep  in  a  bed  of 
heath  and  "  canavawns,"  with  which  the  subterraneous 
cell  was  provided. 

O'Mara  had  only  slej)t  a  few  hours,  however,  when 
he  suddenly  broke  forth  from  his  sleep,  exclaiming,  "  Oh, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  *       167 

my  wife,  my  darling  wife,  and  my  dear  children  !  Oh, 
Captain,  I  fear  I  am  undone  !  Keep  you  quiet,  how- 
ever, till  I  return  ; "  and  grasping  his  rifle  firmly,  he 
rushed  upwards  from  his  retreat.  It  was  now  the  after- 
noon, and  all  traces  of  the  savage  yeomanry  on  the 
mountain  had  disappeared,  but  when  Terry  advanced  a 
few  hundred  yards,  so  as  to  command  a  view  of  his  own 
house,  nothing  of  it  remained  but  a  smoking  ruin  ! 

"  Great  God  \"  he  exclaimed,  "my  dream  was  true  ! 
Oh,  may  the  Lord  save  my  wife  and  children  ! "  and  he 
bounded  like  a  wolf-dog  over  the  brown  surface  of  the 
uneven  sward. 

Poor  patriot !  the  Lord  has  saved  the  souls  of  those 
most  dear  to  you,  but  expect  not  that  their  lives  are 
safe  after  a  visit  from  the  cruel  soldiery  of  England. 
Now  for  the  first  time  since  the  razor  touched  the  manly 
cheeks  of  O'Mara,  did  the  scalding  tears,  in  torrents, 
rush  from  his  flaming  eyes.  And  how  could  he  be 
blamed,  for,  there  before  him,  hacked,  naked,  and  man- 
gled, he  sees  the  body  of  his  dear,  virtuous,  and  comely 
wife,  hanffiu";  from  the  birch  tree  that  stood  in  front  of  his 
burned  homestead,  with  two  of  her  children  poniarded, 
and  suspended  by  the  flaxen  hair  of  their  mother  down 
by  her  sides  ! 

"  Oh  God  !  oh  God  !  what  a  sight  is  this  ! "  cried 
the  heart-broken  patriot,  falling  down  on  the  earth, 
which  drank  in  his  tears,  and  which  he  smote  with  both 


168     *  THE     PROPHET      OP 

his  hands  and  his  forehead.  "  Oh  that  I  could  without 
sin  follow  you,  beloved  wife  and  children  of  my  inmost 
soul,  into  the  land  of  spirits,  into  the  presence  of  the 
great  God  himself,  to  tell  him  how  pure,  how  innocent, 
and  good  you  were,  and  how  damnable  the  sword,  the 
hand,  the  law,  the  government  that  shed  the  blood  of 
my  peaceful  family  !  0  vengeance  !  vengeance  !  ven- 
geance !  I  devote  myself  to  thee,  as  thy  slave  and  agent 
for  ever,  while  a  drop  of  this  blood  burns  or  flows  in  my 
veins  !  0  Heavens,  have  ye  seen  this  act  of  murder, 
and  were  ye  silent  ?  0  God  of  thunder  and  lightning, 
why  did  you  not  strike  down  the  human  demons,  who 
perpetrated  this  deed  of  blood  ?  0  unhappy  man, 
why  do  I  blaspheme  ?  Forgive  me,  0  Lord  of  mercy  ! 
Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven.  Oh,  I 
have  lost  my  reason,  and  feel  my  brain  burning  in  my 
head  !  Now  farewell  peace,  and  henceforth  welcome 
war,  plague,  famine,  and  death  !  From  this  day  I  re- 
nounce the  world  and  its  laws,  commerce,  and  pleasures, 
since  it  is  so  cruel  as  not  to  shield  these  my  innocents 
from  this  dreadful  fate."  And  this  is  a  specimen  of  the 
working  of  the  '  glorious  British  constitution/  this  a 
sample  of  the  civilization  of  England.  He  then  took  a 
portion  of  the  clotted  blood  of  his  wife  and  children, 
and  gathering  it  in  cold  livid  lumps  into  his  handker- 
chief, cast  himself  on  both  his  knees,  and  with  uplifted 
hands  swore,   that  for  every  drop  of  this  pure,  sacred 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  169 

Celtic  blood,  he  would  shed  a  quart  of  that  of  the  cruel 
enemies  of  his  country  and  race,  or  cease  to  live. 

"  It's, all  over  now,  Captain,"  said  he,  as  he  rejoined 
O'Donnell  in  the  cavern.  "  I  am  now  alone  again  in 
the  world.  My  poor  wife  and  darling  young  ones  are 
hanged,  with  their  bodies  butchered  and  transfixed  on 
the  cursed  tree  that  stood  at  my  very  door.  Oh,  Cap- 
tain !  Captain  !  why  did  you  not  allow  me  to  go  up  and 
meet  the  villains,  whom  I  well  knew  capable  of  these 
cruel  murders  ?  " 

"  0  Lord,  what  a  wretched  country  !  what  dreadful 
times  I"  said  the  Captain.  "  Blame  me  not,  friend,  for 
not  letting  you  go  up  to  be  murdered  by  these  blood- 
thirsty yeomen.     What  could  you  do  among  so  many  ?  " 

"  I  could  have  died  like  a  man,  and  be  now  with  my 
wife  and  children  in  the  next  life,  although  I  am  not 
worthy  of  being  in  the  same  place  with  them.  At  any 
rate  I  should  have  been  spared  this  dreadful  sight  ?  " 

"  Be  calm,  my  friend.  A  day  of  retribution  will 
come,  when  you  will  receive  satisfaction  for  these  things. 
Let  us  prepare  for  the  decent  burial  of  your  beloved 
wife  and  children,  and  then  turn  our  minds  to  avenge 
your  injuries." 

"  0  Captain,  my  heart  will  break  within  me  !  I 
shall  never  again  know  peace  till  the  tomb  inclose  my 
wretched  body.  In  vain  will  the  sun  rise  and  set  for  me  ; 
it  cannot  penetrate  the  gloom  of  my  forlorn  heart  by  a 

8 


170  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

single  ray  of  its  glorious  light.  In  vain  will  the  charm- 
ing music  of  nature  reach  my  ear  ;  in  vain  will  the 
birds  sing,  the  trees  blossom,  or  the  ten  thousand  rills 
of  Erin,  of  the  green  hills  and  silver  streams,  send  forth 
their  soft  melody  on  the  wings  of  the  gentle  zephyrs  ;  thy 
heart,  unhappy  O'Mara,  shall  be  insensible  to  their 
charming  influence.  All  the  world  will  rejoice  and  re- 
flect back  the  smiles  and  joys  and  gladness  of  spring, 
summer  and  autumn,  but  this  heart  of  thine  shall  sit 
uncheered  and  solitary,  like  a  hard  flint  rock,  shaded  by 
the  torrent  of  a  mountain  cascade,  or  like  a  pine  stump, 
damp  and  cold  under  the  accumulated  turf  of  ages  at 
the  foot  of  yonder  mountain.  Alas  !  alas  ! "  he  con- 
tinued, covering  his  eyes  with  both  hands  and  giving  vent 
to  the  pent-up  fountain  of  grief  within  his  manly  heart  ! 
As  the  wild  hurricane  is  succeeded  after  its  spent  rage 
by  the  plaintive  moaning  of  the  careering  wind,  so  the 
heart  of  O'Mara,  when  the  first  violence  of  its  passion 
subsided,  gave  way  to  the  habitual  grief  of  the  Celtic 
temperament,  and  vented  its  sorrow  in  such  melancholy 
laments  as  the  foregoing  plaintive  effusions  of  his  afflict- 
ed soul. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  I7l 


CHAPTER    XV. 

A     "WILD      SCENE      OF      NATUEE. 

Leaving  the  Captain  and  his  comjoanion  Terence 
O'Mara  to  discharge  the  sad  offices  of  burial  to  the 
dead,  alone  and  under  the  favor  of  the  sacred  night, 
let  us,  gentle  reader,  conduct  you  in  safety  to  the  scene 
of  the  wreck  of  the  ill-fated  "  Joan  d'Arc,"  to  see  if  we 
can  find  any  trace  of  our  hero,  the  escaped  Father 
O'Donnell. 

There  is  on  the  western  coast  of  Ireland,  in  the 
County  of  Clare,  an  extensive  country  district  designa- 
ted on  the  map  of  the  island  by  the  proper  Celtic  name 
of  Moher.  It  will  be  hardly  necessary  to  acquaint  the 
intelligent  reader  that  the  "  cliffs  of  Moher"  rank  among 
the  most  stupendous  works  of  nature,  and  present  to  the 
tourist  as  well  as  to  the  naturalist,  subjects  on  which  to 
gratify  the  most  intense  curiosity,  or  to  exercise  the  pro- 
foundest  speculations  of  geological  science.  Here  tin- 
Atlantic  has  for  ages  and  ages  dashed  its  most  powerful 


172  THE      PROPHET      OF 

aquatic  batteries  against  those  everlasting  limestone  and 
granite  ramparts  that  resist  its  encroachments  on  mother 
earth,  and  bid  defiance  to  the  repeated  aggressions  of 
old  Oceanus.  So  precipitous  and  sharp  are  the  outlines 
of  these  cliffs,  that  on  a  view  of  them  from  a  distant 
promontory,  or  from  the  ocean's  bosom,  they  appear  as 
if  some  gigantic  being  of  ancient  times  had  chopped 
their  face  with  some  huge  axe,  and  thus  divided  that 
isthmus  or  neck  of  land  that  united  the  present  Ireland 
with  the  one  that  sunk  into  the  deep  waters,  and  the  west- 
ern coast  of  which,  according  to  tradition,  reached  within 
a  few  leagues  of  "  Ireland  Mickla,"  or  Great  Ireland,  as  this 
new  world  was  anciently  called  in  the  books  of  the  learned. 
In  addition-  to  the  dazzling  height  and  steepness  of  these 
mighty  walls,  there  is  this  among  other  strange  phe- 
nomena, that  the  most  ponderous  bodies,  such  as  rocks, 
cannon  balls,  or  other  weights,  when  thrown  from  above 
never  reach  the  water  perpendicularly,  but  are  attracted 
or  carried  towards  the  base  in  a  semicircular  course  to 
where  the  sea  has  undermined  the  cliffs.  Wild  and 
tempestuous  as  these  threatening  precipices  are,  they 
are  not  without  their  utility  to  man,  and  their  apparent 
inaccessibility  becomes  the  cause  why  numerous  families 
derive  from  them  the  means  of  an  honest  support  ;  for 
the  fronts  of  these  cliffs,  from  the  watermark  of  the 
ocean  to  their  highest  summits  near  the  land,  are  made 
the  nestling-places  of  millions  of  sea-fowls  and  gulls, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  173 

which  the  peasantry,  suspending  themselves  in  baskets 
secured  at  the  top  of  the  precipices,  pick  off  with  snares 
from  their  eggs,  which  they  never  desert  during  the 
whole  season  of  brooding.  Thus  a  most  superior  quality 
of  feathers  for  bedding  and  other  uses  is  procured,  and  a 
population  that  otherwise  could  riot  subsist  on  this 
stormy  coast  obtain  from  this  source  a  comfortable  liveli- 
hood. It  was  at  the  base  of  these  precipitous  steeps 
that  the  unlucky  a  Joan  d'Arc  "  was  finally  crushed  on 
the  day  of  her  wreck,  and  on  a  shelf  formed  by  a  pro- 
truding  table  flag  at  the  mouth  of  a  dark  cavern  reached 
by  the  water  in  stormy  weather,  that  Father  O'Donnell 
found  himself  the  sole  survivor  of  the  late  disaster  ! 
During  hours  he  remained  void  of  feeling  or  sensation 
on  the  elevated  platform  on  which  he  had  been  provi- 
dentially cast  ;  but  when  the  vindictive  spirit  of  the 
storm  passed  away,  and  nature  recovered  her  calm 
equilibrium,  the  genial  heat  of  the  vernal  sun  and  the 
gentle  breathings  of  the  sea  air,  revived  his  torpid  feel- 
ings and  rekindled  the  half  extinguished  fire  of  life.  His 
first  sensations  were  similar  to  those  of  a  fatigued  trav- 
eller  in  a  strange  land,  who,  after  a  tedious  journey,  by 
night  reaches  an  -unknown  city,  and  when  he  awakes  in 
the  morning  finds  his  mind  bewildered,  and  is  unable  to 
say  where  he  is  or  how  he  came  hither.  Gradually, 
however,  he  reflects  on  the  long  roads  he  has  traversed, 
or  the  seas  or  rivers  he  has  passed,  and  on  the  new  ob- 


174  THE      PROPHET      OF 

jects  that  presented  themselves  to  his  view  during  his 
voyage,  and  by  means  of  this  connected  chain  of  thought 
he  forms  a  confused  idea  of  where  he  is.  This  was  exactly 
the  case  with  Father  O'Donnell.  He  recalled  his  escape 
from  prison,  his  embarkation  on  board  the  "  Joan  d' Arc," 
and  the  horrid  scene  of  the  storm  and  wreck,  but  he 
could  not  tell  on  what  part  of  earth  he  was  cast.  He 
saw  the  ocean  before  him,  and  inaccessible  cliffs  over- 
head ;  but  his  mind  was  not  yet  sufficiently  recovered 
from  the  shocks  it  received  to  inform  him  whether  he 
was  on  the  coast  of  Ireland,  England,  France,  or  that 
of  any  other  European  country.  Gratitude  to  God  for 
his  miraculous  preservation  engaged  his  first  attention, 
and  his  next  care  was  to  see  if  there  was  any  possibility 
of  his  reaching  the  ruin  of  the  vessel,  which  he  could 
observe  several  fathoms  beneath  him,  wedged  in  the 
midst  of  torn  fragments  of  rocks  that  piled  over  one 
another  and  formed  a  sort  of  breakwater  before  these 
gigantic  sea  walls.  By  carefully  examining  the  crevices 
and  cavities  of  the  rocks  beneath  him,  and  by  making 
use  of  some  ropes  of  the  riggiDg  which  he  found  within 
reach,  he  was  enabled,  without  danger,  to  descend  to  the 
wreck.  A  single  solitary  corpse  was  all  that  he  could 
find,  and  this  was  that  of  one  of  the  sailors  whom  an 
accident  confined  to  his  hammock  during  the  storm,  all 
the  rest  of  the  crew  and  officers  having  been  washed 
overboard  long  before  the  ill-fated  vessel  reached  her 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  175 

present  state  of  embedment  among  the  rocks.  Having 
hauled  the  body  to  his  sunny  shelving  rock  on  the  cliff- 
side,  he  prepared  to  give  it  the  rites  of  Christian  burial 
bv  dicwino-  a  tomb  in  the  entrance  of  the  dark  cavern 
which  he  found  on  the  verge  of  this  resting-place  of  os- 
preys,  cormorants,  sea-gulls,  and  other  species  of  aquatic 
birds.  The  mouth  of  the  cave  was  spacious  and  lofty, 
and  he  was  surprised  to  find  it  not  only  draperied  with 
creeping  woodbines  and  carpeted  with  a  rich  coat  of 
luxuriant  vegetation,  but  the  soil  from  which  it  sprung 
was  dry,  rich,  and  several  feet  deep.  "I  do  not  know 
on  what  coast  I  am  cast,"  he  said  to  himself,  "  but  if 
the  evergreen  shamrock  and  friendly  woodbine  are  a  con- 
clusive sign,  I  am  still  indebted  to  my  native  land  for 
this  necessary  protection."  Having  paid  a  second  visit 
to  the  shattered  hull  of  the  "  Joan  d'Arc,"  he  was  agree- 
ably surprised  in  finding  in  one  of  the  chests  of  the 
cabin,  vestments,  chalices,  and  all  other  conveniences  for 
celebrating  the  holy  sacrifice  of  the  Mass.  "  Thank 
God,"  he  exclaimed,  the  tears  of  loving  gratitude  roll- 
ing down  his  melancholy  cheeks,  "  I  am  myself  again. 
This  cave  will  be  my  parish  church,  the  music  of  the 
ocean  my  organ,  and  these  myriads  of  birds  the  choir 
that  will  join  me,  even  here  in  this  wild  precipice,  to 
offer  due  homage  to  God  and  in  praising  his  mercies  that 
endure  for  ever."  And  standing  on  the  extreme  verge 
of  the  rock,  facing  the  mighty  ocean,  he  chanted  enthu- 


176  THE      PROPHET      OF 

siastically  that  divine  hymn,  the  "  Te  Deum  Laudamus  : " 
then  turning  to  the  body  of  the  sailor,  he  piously  read 
the  burial  service  out  of  the  Eoman  ritual,  beginning 
with  the  "  Non  intus  in  judicio,"  "  Enter  not  into  judg- 
ment," and  continuing  with  the  "  Deus  cui  propium  est 
misereri  semper,"  the  "  Benedectio  tumuli,"  or  "  Blessing 
of  the  grave,"  and  finishing  with  the  "  Requiescat  in 
pace,  Amen,"  which  chanted  by  his  powerful  and  sonorous 
voice  penetrated  far  into  the  gloom  of  the  awful  cave, 
and  borne  over  the  deep  was  reechoed  in  a  thousand  keys 
from  the  cavities  of  the  iron  cliffs  ! 

The  low  murmurs  of  the  now  subsided  waves  seemed 
to  chime  with  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion,  and  for  the 
first  time  since  creation  the  sweet  chant  of  devout  hymns 
mingled  with  their  savage  mutterings.  After  having 
complied  with  the  demands  of  charity  by  burying  the 
dead,  he  next  set  about  discharging  that  never  to  be 
omitted  duty  of  a  good  priest,  that  is,  saying  his  office 
or  reading  his  breviary.  And  as  he  read  attentively  and 
devoutly  the  divine  lyrics  of  the  royal  psalmist,  or 
chanted  the  lamentations  of  Jeremiah,  or  meditated  on 
the  profound  dogmatic  sentences  of  St.  Paul's  epistles, 
or  imbibed  the  clear  illustrations  and  satisfactory  hom- 
ilies of  St.  Gregory  or  of  others  of  the  fathers,  his  soul 
became  the  centre  of  feelings  of  devotion  and  love  and 
confidence  of  the  most  consoling  and  ecstatic  character. 
The  part  of  the  office  for  this  day  prescribed .  spoke  of 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  179 

boons  of  Grod  to  man  in  the  natural  order,  none  is  more 
universal,  more  consoling,  or  blessed,  than  that  of  sleep. 
And  so  I  dismiss  the  subject,  not  wishing  to  disturb  the 
repose  of  my  hero  by  disputations  regarding  the  merits 
of  the  few  foregoing  reflections  about  the  happiness  and 
consolations  of  a  calm  sleep  !  The  very  ocean  on  this 
her  wildest  border,  the  loud  roaring  west  wind,  the  clar- 
ion toned  eagle,  the  moaning  sea-gull  and  hoarse  cor- 
morant and  night-crow,  all  had  rested  and  ceased  their 
wonted  clamor,  uproar  and  screaming,  at  this  hour  which 
we  describe,  and  during  the  repose  of  our  prophet  priest. 
Let  us  yield  to  sympathizing  feelings  of  a  like  nature, 
and  pause  for  a  moment  ! 


180  THE      PROPHET      OF 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

"  THE     LAVERAGH     LYNCHAGH  ;  "     OR,     LONG-HAIRED 

PRINCE. 

In  the  days  of  Pagan  Ireland,  some  time  before  the 
reign  of  Dathi,  there  lived  and  ruled  a  prince  of  the 
above  name,  not  very  euphonous  to  English  ears,  and 
his  government  comprehended  a  great  portion  of  the 
country  beyond  the  Shannon,  including  the  western  part^ 
of  the  county  of  Clare.  His  castle,  whence  he  sent 
forth  his  severe  decrees,  was  located  in  a  country  of  great 
scenic  beauty,  and  was  strongly  fortified,  both  by  nature 
and  art.  In  the  centre  of  a  lake  about  a  mile  in  cir- 
cumference, stood  a  buld  limestone  rock,  elevated  about 
threescore  feet  above  the  level  of  the  water,  and  on  the 
summit  of  this  dark  frowning  projecture  was  raised  the 
solid  scpiare  fortress  of  the  "  Laveragh  Lynchagh." 
Whether  or  not  the  lake  was  artificial  or  natural,  cannot 
be  now  ascertained,  and  constituted  a  matter  of  dispute 
with  the  contemporaries  of  our  prince,  for  sometimes  its 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  177 

the  mercies  and  power  of  God,  who  can  save  from  the 
"profound  abyss/'  "from  the  mouth  of  the  lion/'  "and 
from  the  noonday  demon  ; "  and  from  the  spiritual  joy 
with  which  his  soul  was  rilled,  the  pious  father  concluded 
that  the  hand  of  God  was  at  work  in  bringing  him  through 
all  his  trials  ;  and  under  the  influence  of  feelings  akin 
to  those  which  the  inspired  feel,  he  exclaimed  aloud, 
"  Oh,  my  God,  I  thank  thee  for  making  an  instrument 
of  thy  servant,  like  Daniel,  to  glorify  thy  name  ;  for  I 
know  it  is  for  the  accomplishment  of  some  inscrutable 
design  of  thy  providence  that  thou  hast  conducted  me 
to  this  gloomy  cavern.  Make  known  to  me  thy  will, 
and  I  will  perform  it.  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it 
is  in  heaven  ;"  and  with  this  act  of  resignation  ter- 
minated his  first  day's  service  in  his  new  missionary 
station. 

The  cold  shadow  of  night  gradually  spread  her 
fading  influence  over  the  face  of  Nature,  enveloping  alike 
land  and  water  in  the  gloom  of  her  melancholy  covering, 
and  the  keen  breeze  from  the  western  billow  reminded 
our  hero  of  the  prudence  of  seeking  some  shelter  from 
its  chilling  effects.  Accordingly,  retiring  some  distance 
into  the  cave,  with  a  stone  for  his  pillow,  the  earth  his 
bed,  and  his  dripping  cloak  his  only  covering,  he  yielded 
his  wearied  limbs  to  the  embrace  of  a  sound  and  undis- 
turbed sleep. 

0   soul-satisfying  sleep,  what  a   boon   thou  art  to 


178  THE      PROPHET      OF 

man  !  Thou  art  equally  accessible  to  rich  and  poor, 
young  and  old,  and,  like  the  benevolence  or  mercy  of 
God,  all  partake  of  thy  unspeakable  joys  !  All  the  other 
pleasures  of  earth  combined  are  not  equal  to  one  em- 
brace of  thy  oft-repeated  and  refreshing  visits  !  Thou 
disdainest  not  the  lowest  cot  of  the  poor  man,  but  rather 
preferrest  to  linger  under  its  humble  roof  than  to  take 
up  thy  abode  in  the  embroidered  chambers  of  kings  and 
princes.  Thou  art  present  to  relieve  the  slave  after  his 
day's  toil  of  unrequited  labor,  as  well  as  to  refresh  the 
warrior  or  patriot  oppressed  by  the  fatigue  of  his  noble 
struggle  for  his  country  or  her  altars.  The  shipwrecked 
mariner  finds  in  thee  his  best-  friend,  as  well  as  the  rude 
and  simple  hunter  of  the  forest,  after  his  day  of  fruitless 
chase.  How  truly  the  ancients  called  thee  divine,  0 
best  friend  of  weary  mortals  !  If  thou,  being  but  the 
image  of  death,  art  so  pleasing,  so  consoling,  so  full  of 
innocent  and  unalloyed  pleasure,  what  a  boon  the  reali- 
ty of  this  image,  the  substance  of  this  shadow,  must  be, 
in  that  eternity  where  its  joys  shall  never  end,  and  its 
calm  shall  be  interrupted  by  such  ravishing  and  ecstatic 
dreams  !  I  speak  here,  of  course,  of  the  sleep  or  death 
of  the  just  ;  for  the  wicked,  as  they  shall  not  enjoy  the 
eternal  repose  of  Paradise,  so  they  cannot,  even  here  be- 
low, participate  in  the  sweets  of  a  calm  and  blessed 
sleep,  such  as  the  pure  and  just  enjoy.  All  I  say,  or 
wish  to  be  understood  as  saying  here,  is,  that  of  all  the 


THE      KUINED      ABBEY.  183 

wealth  and  attendants  on  board  of  ships,  faced  the  At- 
lantic Ocean,  and  went  back  to  the  cradle  of  their  an- 
cestors in  Spain,  rather  than  live  under  the  sway  of  one 
whom  they  regarded  as  a  curse  to  the  race  of  Milesians, 
than  the  father  of  his  people. 

At  length,  however,  a  circumstance  happened  which 
roused  the  patient  forbearance  to  an  irresistible  degree 
of  fury,  and  soon  rid  the  land  of  the  "Laveragh"  and 
his  government.  The  twenty-first  anniversary  of  the 
royal  shaving  was  at  hand,  and,  in  the  height  of  the 
general  expectation,  the  lot  of  royal  barber  was  found 
to  have  fallen  on  Bein  MacConnaul,  a  young  noble,  the 
only  heir  of  his  house,  as  distinguished  for  his  eloquence 
and  virtue  as  he  stood  high  in  the  esteem  of  his  sove- 
reign. This  unhappy  lot  fell  on  the  nobles  and  on  the 
whole  body  of  the  people,  like  a  shock  of  electricity. 
The  question  of  the  royal  shaving  became  the  question 
of  all  the  demagogues  and  disaffected  over  the  wide  face 
of  the  princely  territory.  Resolutions  were  passed,  vows 
were  registered,  and  pledges  given,  that  sooner  than  let 
MacConnaul  perish  or  enter  the  castle  of  the  long-haired 
prince,  all  the  swords  in  the  land  should  be  unsheathed, 
and  the  last  blood  in  their  veins  should  be  spilt,  if  neces- 
sary !  Even  the  "  Laveragh  Lynchagh"  himself  seemed 
to  be  touched  by  the  universal  grief,  and  he  answered  to 
a  deputation  that  waited  on  him,  that  he  would  rather 
that  half  his  tetrarchy  should  be  lost,  than  that  the 


184  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

loyal  and  patriotic  line  of  the  MacConnaul  should  be- 
come extinct.  "  But  fate  must  not  be  resisted,"  he 
sternly  replied,  giving  the  deputation  to  understand, 
that  as  in  his  majesty  reposed  the  source  of  all  true 
nobility,  he  would  issue  letters-patent  to  re-establish 
or  reinstate  the  house  of  MacConnaul,  or  that  something 
else  should  be  done  so  that  the  nobility  should  not  suffer 
from  the  extinction  of  one  of  their  privileged  order.  With 
an  answer,  in  substance  as  the  above,  the  nobles  were 
bowed  out  of  the  presence  of  the  "long-haired  prince  ;" 
and  well  pleased  with  their  reception  they  returned  to 
their  castles.  MacConnaul  in  the  mean  time  prepared 
most  cheerfully  for  his  fate,  and  far  from  murmuring  he 
rather  regarded  it  as  a  privilege  to  be  called  on  by  fate 
to  suffer  for  his  country  ;  and  with  as  little  delay  as  pos- 
sible, having  bequeathed  his  vast  hereditary  possessions 
to  religion  and  bidden  farewell  to  his  domestics" and  vas- 
sals, without  daring  to  trust  himself  to  appear  in  presence 
of  his  betrothed,  to  whom  he  only  sent  a  coronet  of  gold 
and  a  poem  of  consolation,  written  by  his  own  hand, 
he  prepared  to  enter  the  castle. 

Apart  from  the  fact  that  the  MacConnaul  house  was 
the  most  loyal  supporter  of  the  prince,  and  on  that  ac- 
count was  his  life  of  value  to  "  Laveragh,"  the  tyrant's 
heart  was  for  once  touched  with  his  youth  and  beauty, 
and  having  extracted  a  solemn  promise  from  the  young 
noble  that  he  should  never  reveal  what  he  should  wit- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  181 

waters  appeared  almost  entirely  dried  up  ;  and  besides, 
there  was  no  stream  or  river  from  which  its  waters  might 
be  supplied  ;  and  certain  it  is,  that  though  the  castle 
remains  to  this  day,  and  the  rock  on  which  it  stands, 
the  lake  is  no  longer  to  be  seen,  nor  as  much  as  a 
swamp,  or  any  other  evidence  that  the  beautiful  plain 
around  the  ruined  castle  was  once  the  bed  of  a  consid- 
erable body  of  water.  Be  this  as  it  may,  we  know  from 
history,  and  the  mother  of  history,  tradition,  that  there 
was  such  a  lake,  as  we  can  see  there  was  such  a  castle  ; 
and  that  it  was  the  stronghold  of  this  blackheaded  prince, 
cannot  be  for  a  moment  doubted.  He  has  been  depicted 
by  bards  and  painters  as  a  man  of  very  stern  look  ;  his 
hair  dark  as  the  raven's  wing,  and  flowing  over  his  shoul- 
ders ;  his  eyes  bright  and  glowing  as  a  comet  ;  his  figure 
tall  and  gaunt,  though  of  wiry  and  masculine  forma- 
tion ;  in  a  word,  his  whole  mien  was  such  as  to  inspire 
terror  rather  than  command  love  or  esteem.  It  is  true, 
his  rule  over  his  subjects  was  mild,  and  marked  by  fre- 
quent acts  of  unprecedented  liberality  ;  but  still,  there 
was  something  in  his  looks  and  general  character  which 
detracted  from  his  frequent  acts  of  generosity,  which  dis- 
satisfied the  people,  and  caused  them  often  to  wish  that 
his  young  sons  would  come  of  age,  in  order  that  their 
allegiance  might  be  transferred  from  one  who  lived  so 
retiredly,  and  whose  conduct  they  could  not  understand, 
to  whichever  of  the  young  princes  deserved  by  his  virtues 


182  THE      PROPHET      OF 

and  martial  exploits  to  rule  in  the  ancient  seat  of  his 
ancestors.  Already  "  Laveragh"  had  ruled  twenty  years 
over  his  obedient  subjects,  and  already  twenty  of  his  most 
worthy  nobles,  chosen  by  lot,  fell  victims  to  his  mysterious 
and  inexplicable  tyranny.  This  monarch,  it  seems, 
shaved  only  once  a  year,  about  the  first  of  May  ;  and  as 
he  disdained,. or  was  ignorant  of  the  use  of  his  razor  him- 
self, one  of  his  nobles  was  obliged  to  discharge  this  act 
of  vassalage  to  his  prince  ;  but  it  was  well  understood 
that  whoever  was  chosen  by  lot  to  fill  this  office  of  royal 
barber,  was  never  to  return  to  his  family,  but  either  con- 
fined for  life  in  a  dungeon  of  the  castle,  or  put  to  death 
privately,  or  without  having  any  explanation  giving  the 
cause  of  such  a  proceeding.  The  only  reason  he  assigned 
to  appease  the  murmurs  of  his  subjects,  was  that  a  cer- 
taid  Druid  prophet  named  "  MacBrenagh  "  ordered  it  so, 
as  a  step  that  was  required  by  fate  for  the  security  of 
the  throne,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  people.  Often- 
times rebellions  were  just  on  the  eve  of  breaking  out, 
and  men  were  leagued  and  sworn  to  attack  the  tyrant 
in  his  Island  Castle  ;  but,  by  the  influence  of  the  Druid 
priest>s,  and  especially  of  "  MacBrenagh,"  all  sedition 
was  speedily  suppressed,  and  peace  and  order  restored 
all  over  the  realm  of  "  Laveragh  Lynchagh."  This  state 
of  things  continued  for  twenty  years,  causing  the  emi- 
gration of  many  houses  of  noble  blood  to  Leinster  and 
Ulster,  and   there   were  some  who,  putting  all   their 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  185 

ness  in  the  operation  of  shaving,  an  exception  was  made 
in  his  favor,  and  to  the  amazement  and  joy  of  all  men, 
after  having  spent  a  few  clays  in  feasting  at  the  royal 
table,  the  noble  barber  returned  to  his  vassals  and 
castle  ! 

The  people  were  in  ecstasies  at  the  safety  of  the 
young  noble,  and  he  was  continually  asked  how  he  es- 
caped the  dungeon  or  sword  of  the  long-haired  ree  or 
king.  The  prudent  MacConnaul  acknowledged  and 
thanked  them  for  their  courtesies,  but  ever  evaded  the 
most  remote  hint  to  what  he  had  seen.  To  one  he 
made  one  answer,  and  to  a  second  another,  and  to  a 
third  a  different  one,  as  he  judged  of  the  capacity  or 
penetration  of  his  interrogators  ;  but  the  shrewdest  an- 
swer he  could  make  satisfied  not  the  curiosity  of  the 
suspecting  and  sagacious  peo'ple,  and  most  of  them  de- 
parted more  convinced  than  ever  that  there  was  some 
unexplained  prodigy  in  "  Cuslaun  aglaun  Duv,"  and, 
that  the  king  had  something  about  him  which  he  wished 
to' conceal,  or  that  he  probably  made  his  "  Baltinne," 
or  "  May  dinner,"  on  the  carcases  of  each  of  his  unlucky 
barbers.  Soothsayers  were  consulted  and  prophets 
bribed,  and  the  stars  themselves  read  to  find  out  the 
exact  truth,  but  to  no  purpose.  The  answers  received 
were  all  either  absurd  or  self-contradictory,  so  that  up 
to  the  escape  of  "  MacConnaul"  there  was  no  clue  found 
to  the  mystery  flung  around  the  "  long-haired  king." 


186  THE      PROPHET      OF 

MacConnaul  slept  ill  the  night  after  the  shaving,  and 
during  a  whole  year  he  was  tormented  in  mind,  which 
seemed  weighed  down  under  the  burden  of  its  own  secret. 
The  fair  tint  of  health  had  gradually  left  his  manly 
cheek.  The  hunting-spear  and  the  broadsword  rusted 
in  his  lordly  hall,  and  his  broad  shield  was  unused  and 
dusty.  Even  his  harp,  with  which  he  delighted  and 
elevated  the  soul  of  the  fair  lady  he  was  betrothed  to, 
hung  neglected  in  his  high-roofed  dormitory,  and  his 
beloved  "  Gilla  Grenia"  had  not  heard  his  soft  voice 
chanting  the  noble  deeds  of  heroes,  or  the  more  pleasing 
conquests  of  love,  for  a  whole  month.  And  sad  were 
the  forebodings  of  her  pure  and  fluttering  heart,  when 
she  heard  not  the  echo  of  his  golden  bugle  on  the  sides 
of  Mount  Callan,  or  saw  not  his  well-trained  deer-hounds 
coursing  the  red-skinned  antlers  on  the  hills  of  Burren  ! 
MacConnaul  sought  the  counsel  of  wise  men  to  resolve 
his  doubts  ;  and  after  due  sacrifices  to  the  sun,  which 
his  fathers  worshipped,  he  made  a  pilgrimage  to  the 
shrine  of  a  celebrated  druid  prophet  to  seek  for  instruc- 
tion in  his  present  doubts. 

Having  offered  gifts  and  confided  the  burden  of  his 
troubled  bosom  to  the  "  Sacred  Seer,"  MacConnaul  re- 
turned home,  renewed  in  spirits  and  high  in  hope,  and 
going  into  his  extensive  ancestral  woods,  there,  accord- 
ing to  the  counsel  of  his  druidical  director,  he  breathed 
his  secret  at  the  foot  of  a  wild  ash  or  "cauran"  tree, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  187 

and  thus  eased  his  conscience  of  the  heavy  burden  that 
oppressed  it.  It  happened  at  this  time,  that  the  people 
were  preparing  to  celebrate  the  festival  of  "  Baltinne," 
or  the  "  Irish  Pan,"  and  accidentally,  or  by  the  guidance 
of  Providence,  coming  to  the  tree  to  whose  keeping  the 
secret  was  intrusted,  behold,  they  no  sooner  began  to 
blow  their  rude  pipes,  made  of  the  tender  limbs  of  the 
mountain  ash,  than  out  came  the  mystery  of  the  shaving 
and  the  secret  of  the  long-haired  prince.  For  the  mu- 
sic  given  forth  very  distinctly  uttered   the   following 

couplet  : 

*  "  Tha  da  claus  Coppel 

Eir  a  Laveragh  Lynchagh." 

"  The  savage  prince  whose  yoke  you've  borne  for  years, 
Instead  of  human,  hath  a  horse's  ears." 

This  startling  intelligence,  communicated  by  inspira- 
tion, was  soon  spread,  as  if  by  magic,  through  the  length 
and  breadth  of  the  country.  From  castle  it  flew  to  castle, 
from  village  to  village,  and  from  town  to  town,  till  the  face 
of  the  tetrarchy  presented  the  appearance  of  so  many  in- 
vaded beehives,  so  loud  and  clamorous  was  the  comino- 

*  Does  not  this  legend  bear  a  striking  affinity  to  the  fabled  Midas 
of  Ovid  ?  Nor  is  this  the  only  instance  of  almost  perfect  iden- 
tity between  the  tales  of  ancient  Irish  bards  and  those  of  the  classi- 
cal Greek  and  Roman  poets;  and  is  it  not  more  than  probable  that 
the  latter  were  modelled  on,  if  not  copies  of  the  more  ancient  Irish 
and  Etruscan  legends  ? — Author. 


188  THE      PEOPHET      OF 

tion  that  pervaded  every  hamlet  and  village  and  town 
over  the  country.  The  people  marched  from  all  direc- 
tions  towards  the  tyrant's  stronghold.  They  were  led 
on  by  the  nobility.  The  very  Druid  priests,  who  were 
hitherto  the  stoutest  pillars  of  his  throne,  fail  to  sus- 
tain him,  now  that  they  see  him  deserted  by  all.  The 
splendid  endowments  and  costly  presents  bestowed  on 
that  crafty  class  of  state-paid  officials,  failed  to  make 
them  proof  against  the  increasing  disaffection,  and  in 
the  hour  of  need  they  denounce  him  who  hitherto  flour- 
ished by  their  predictions  and  second-sights.  Finally, 
the  life-guards  of  the  prince  revolt,  refusing  to  serve 
a  monster  who  was  part  human  and  part  equine  ;  and 
ere  the  feast  of  "Baltinne"  was  closed,  poor  "Laveragh" 
lost  his  head,  and  his  huge  ears  were  nailed,  for  public 
edification,  to-a  great  mountain-ash  tree  that  stood  be- 
fore his  castle-gate,  where  they  remained  for  many  a 
day,  as  a  memorial  of  such  a  wonderful  deliverance 
from  tyranny,  the  very  birds  of  carrion  themselves  ap- 
pearing to  have  no  appetite  for  the'  flesh  of  such  a  sac- 
rilegious and  inhuman  monster  !  The  lake  has  since 
disappeared,  with  the  royal  palace,  the  castles  of  the 
nobles,  and  the  dwellings  of  their  vassals  and  tenants  ; 
but  the  ruin  of  the  island  castle,  together  with  the 
memory  of  its  occupant,  still  exists,  to  attest  the  ancient 
splendor  of  Erin,  as  well  as  to  prove  the  indestructible 
character  of  her  annals  and  traditions  of  her  people. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  189 

rr 

There  were  many  great  kings  before  Agamemnon, 
many  patriots  before  Brutus,  Tell  or  Wallace,  or  Brien 
Boru,  and  many  revolutions  and  dethronements  of  ty- 
rants before  Tarquin  or  Nero,  if  the  j)en  of  the  historian 
or  the  inspired  numbers  of  the  poet  had  not  been  want- 
ing to  immortalize  such  exploits.  We  therefore  claim 
from  our  readers  the  same  credit  for  the  foregoing  brief 
history  of  the  "  Laveragh  Lynchagh,"  as  must  be  given 
to  many  other  equally  authentic  memoirs  of  very  distin- 
guished personages  in  all  ages  of  the  world  and  in  vari- 
ous stations  of  life,  but  the  memory  of  whose  exploits 
is  lost  to  posterity  for  the  want  of  proper  historians. 

We  give  our  readers  this  assurance,  however,  that 
we  have  neither  added  to  nor  taken  from  the  foregoing, 
but  given  it  as  it  was  often  related  to  us  at  the  old  fireside, 
by  grave  and  venerable  men,  not  far  from  the  splendid 
ruins  of  this  selfsame  castle  of  the  old  horse-eared  ty- 
rant aforesaid. 

Many  a  time  we  strolled  around  its  ruins,  to  gaze 
with  wonder  on  its  massive  masonry,  and  the  adhesive 
quality  of  the  mortar  used  in  its  construction,  which 
converted  the  whole  edifice  into  one  solid  mass,  as  if  it 
were  cut  out  from  some  gigantic  quarry.  Often  did  we 
climb  the  ivy-clad  walls  of  its  gables,  and  partitions, 
and  buttresses,  and  ramparts,  to  reach  the  nest  of  the 
hawk  or  raven,  or  to  gain  a  view  of  the  charming  scenery 
around,  from  one  of  its  still  preserved  turrets.     Alas  ! 


190  THE      PROPHET      OF 

then  we  were  too  thoughtless  or  ignorant  to  appreciate 
the  thousand  treasures  of  ruined  castles  and  abbeys,  and 
round  tower  and  rath  and  lis,  and  cave  and  "crumlagh," 
as  well  as  story,  and  tradition,  and  legends,  all  illustra- 
tive of  the  glory  and  renown  of  our  native  land,  which 
might  be  collected  or  visited  in  almost  every  acre  of  the 
classic  soil  of  Clare.  Now,  we  must  be  content,  after 
the  example  of  one  who  had  lost  a  great  fortune,  to 
economize  the  scanty  supply  which  has  remained  with 
us,  and  attempt  to  save  one  legend  of  our  country  from 
the  oblivion  that  awaits  millions  of  others  far  more  in- 
teresting and  valuable  than  any  that  adorns  our  scanty 
pages. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  191 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE     HERMIT'S     NOVITIATE. 

Two  full  moons  had  waned  and  disappeared,  and  a  third 
was  rounding  her  gibbous  shoulders,  and  Father  O'Don- 
nell  had  not  heard  the  voice  of  a  human  being.  The 
shrill,  clarion-like  notes  of  the  eagle  returning  with  his 
prey,  the  hoarse  croak  of  the  cormorant,  or  the  melan- 
choly plaint  of  the  bittern  or  seagull,  were  the  only 
voices  that  broke  in  on  his  solitude.  These  winded 
tribes  of  the  air,  of  various  habits,  and  differing  in  their 
manner  of  lii'e  as  much  as  they  did  in  the  color  and  shape 
of  their  plumage,  notwithstanding  that  their  numbers 
were  countless,  and  the  wild  region  which  they  had 
chosen  for  their  dwellings  barren,  yet  seemed  to  enjoy 
peace  and  contentment,  and  their  government  might  be 
advantageously  imitated  by  men,  as  it  occurred  to  the 
mind  of  our  hermit.  He  therefore  learned,  and  gradu- 
ally began  to  practise,  the  contentment,  the  frugality, 
and  the  cheerfulness,  which  evidently  reigned  in  the 


192         '  THE      PROPHET      OF 

feathered  republic  which  had  established  itself,  from 
time  immemorial,  on  the  inaccessible  high  places  above 
and  around  him.  Here  the  eagle,  though  his  royal  lin- 
eage could  be  traced  back  to  the  flood  at  least,  claimed 
no  homage  from  his  subjects,  and  was  content  with  that 
calm,  undisputed  dignity  which  belonged  to  his  family  ; 
and  though  he  might  safely  and  without  danger  to  his 
aerial  throne,  enforce  the  support  of  his  eyry  on  the  sub- 
jects of  his  own  kingdom,  yet  he  seldom,  except  in  sea- 
sons of  great  famine,  urged  this  right,  but  rather  levied 
on  the  quadruped  race  these  necessary  supplies.  Nor, 
after  the  bad  examples  of  human  kings,  was  the  soul  of 
the  magnanimous  king  of  birds  liable  to  be  disturbed  by 
the  satire  or  mockery  of  inferior  subjects  ;  and  he  often 
allowed  the  sparrow  or  the  wren  to  perch  on  his  back 
and  peck  at  one  of  his  gigantic  feathers  by  way  of  insult 
to  his  authority,  without  the  slightest  manifestation  of 
spleen  or  vindictiveness  against  these  vulgar  satirists 
and  impotent  rebels  against  kingly  sway. 

From  these,  and  like  observations,  on  the  only  living 
beings  around  him,  our  hermit's  well-instructed  and 
active  mind  drew  reflections  to  entertain  himself  with, 
and  keep  up  his  spirits,  during  the  few  hours  of  the  day 
that  were  not  occupied  with  his  devotions.  His  first 
occupation  in  his  cave  was  to  smoothen  the  top  of  a  frag- 
ment of  rock  which  had  fallen  from  its  roof,  so  that  he 
could  use  it  as  an  altar,  on  which  to  offer  the  holy  sacri- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  193 

fice,  and,  after  some  months'  labor,  he  shaped  it,  by  the 
aid  of  some  iron  instruments  found  on  the  wreck,  so 
that  there  was  not  only  platform,  table,  and  steps,  but 
even  a  rude  tabernacle,  crucifix,  and  candlestick,  were 
all  formed  out  of  the  one  ledge  of  rock,  by  rude  but  in- 
cessant chiselling  !  What  cannot  industry  do,  inspired 
by  devotion  ?  Here,  in  the  wildest  spot  in  Ireland,  or 
probably  in  the  world,  the  scene  most  likely  of  violence 
and  crime,  whose  record  is  only  kept  in  the  dark  ar- 
chives of  eternity,  the  prediction  of  the  prophet  is  ful- 
filled ;  the  victim  of  peace  is  daily  offered  ;  the  will  of 
Heaven  is  exactly  carried  out  ;  the  privations  of  nature 
become  sweet,  and  the  horrid  cave  becomes  the  conse- 
crated dwelling  of  a  saint.  Every  morning  at  the  dawn 
of  day,  long  ere  the  lazy  autumnal  sun  showed  his 
round  lewd  face  above  the  mists  of  the  ocean,  the  father 
had  his  mass  said,  and  his  thanksgiving,  and  little  hours 
finished,  having  chanted  the  matins  and  lauds  on  the 
night  previous,  as  is  ever  the  custom  of  priests.  He 
next  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  his  great  cave  cell,  to 
gather  some  herbs,  or  pick  up  whatever  Providence  might 
have  sent  in  his  way  for  the  support  of  life.  Often- 
times he  made  his  only  meal  on  the  tender  flesh  of 
lambs  and  kids,  which  the  young  eagles  of  the  eyry 
had,  after  satisfying  their  gluttonous  appetites,  thrown 
ever  the  cliff,  and  which  fell  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave. 
At  times  he  was  satisfied  with   a  few  handfuls  of  the 

9 


194  THE      PROPHET      OF 

whortleberry,  or  "  whurts"  which  grew  in  great  abund- 
ance on  the  surrounding  cliffs,  or  contented  himself  with 
a  few  bunches  of  trefoil,  or  clover  salad,  which  consti- 

•  tuted  the  chief  vegetation  of  these  steeps.  On  one  day 
a  fish  thrown  in  by  a  wave  would  supply  his  repast  ;  on 
another,  he  would  be  satisfied  with  picking  some  heads 
of  wheat  and  ears  of  corn,  which  the  crows  and  rooks, 
having  plundered  from  the  farms,  brought  to  secrete  in 
these  precipices,  as  their  winter  supplies.  The  same 
marauding  parties  also  brought  a  considerable  quantity 
of  potatoes,  which  were  his  only  vegetables,  and  of 
which  he  planted  some  on  the  small  plot  of  soil  which 

f  fronted  the  cave,  and  between  rocks,  where  they  grew 
luxuriantly,  and  produced  abundantly.  Thus,  by  the 
providence  of  God,  were  the  earth,  the  sea,  and  the  air 
made  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  one  whose  chief 
occupation  was  the  worship  of  God,  and  who  had  no 
thought  of  what  he  "  should  eat,  or  wherewith  be 
clothed." 

How  little  will  suffice  for  the  support  of  man,  if  he 
only  live  within  moderation  and  according  to  nature  ! 
And  all  the  wealth  that  ever  was  amassed,  or  all  the 
treasure  that  ever  was  dug  out  of  the  earth,  cannot  give 
a  man  much  more  than  his  food  and  clothing.  Why  do 
men  then  run  over  sea  and  land,  dig  into  the  bowels  of 
the  earth,  and  contract  diseases  by  which  they  die  in 
millions  before  their  time,  when  all  they  can  really  en- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  195 

joy  is  only  what  our  hero,  Father  O'Donnell,  got  from 
a  wave  of  the  ocean,  from  the  crow  or  eagle,  that  soared 
through  the  air  over  his  head,  or  from  the  small  patch  of 
sixteen  feet  square  that  stood  before  his  cave  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  ?  The  gold-hunters  say,  they  want  to  get 
rich,  in  order  to  be  able  to  do  good,  to  give  to  charity,  or 
relieve  the  poor,  according  to  the  counsels  of  the  Gos- 
pel. Yes,  fyut  the  very  fact  that  there  is  such  a  scram- 
ble for  riches,  is  the  chief  cause  why  there  are  poor  at 
all.  If  all  men  were  to  live  according  to  nature,  and 
were  content  with  a  patriarchal  competency,  there  would 
be  probably  very  few  poor  ;  too  few  to  require  that  we 
should  put  ourselves  to  such  extreme  care,  labor,  and v 
trouble,  not  to  say  danger  and  sin,  to  relieve  their  wants. 
The  Lord,  who  tells  us  to  give,  if  we  have  abundance,  no- 
where tells  us  to  have  or  get  all  we  can  ;  on  the  contrary 
we  are  warned  of  the  danger  of  possessing  much  of  the 
goods  of  this  world,  and  strongly  counselled  to  get  rid 
of  them  as  quick  as  we  can,  by  devoting  them  to  char- 
ity, in  order  to  avoid  the  very  great  danger  of  riches, 
which  may  obstruct  our  entrance  into  that  fold  of  hea- 
ven, the  door  of  which  is  so  narrow  and  difficult  of  en- 
trance. Hence  the  primitive  Christians  and  martyrs, 
the  anchurets  and  hermits  of  after  ages,  and  the  reli- 
gious orders  of  modern  times  have  ever  showed  the  sin- 
cerity of  their  conversion,  by  renouncing  the  world,  sell- 
ing what  they  possessed,  and  distributing  their  means  to 


196  THE      PROPHET      OF 

the  poor.  On  the  other  hand,  wherever  the  spirit  of 
religion  has  grown  cold,  or  the  church  has  suffered  from 
revolutionary  innovations  in  creed,  these  customs  of  the 
first  ages,  of  the  middle  ages,  and  of  all  that  is  heroic 
and  admirable  in  the  present  age,  have  been  laughed  at, 
condemned  and  disused,  and  the  doctrines  and  counsels 
of  the  Gospel  regarding  poverty,  chastity,  and  the  dan- 
ger of  riches,  and  the  value  of  self-denial,  are  exploded 
as  remnants  of  a  barbarous  and  unenlightened  age,  and 
fragments  of  a  Christianity  not  yet  improved  to  the 
modern  optimist  pattern  ! 

The  life  which  Paul  the  hermit  chose  from  inclina- 
tion and  free  will,  and  in  which  he  persevered  for  eighty 
years,  Father  O'Donnell  was  invited  to  embrace  by  the 
evident  decree  of  Providence  :  and  though  we  cannot 
record  of  the  latter,  that  he  was  fed  by  a  raven,  who 
brought  him  his  daily  ration,  as  of  the  former,  yet  we 
consider  the  life  of  the  one  equally  meritorious  with  that 
of  the  other,  and  both  favored  by  Heaven  with  like 
graces  and  privileges. 

After  living  in  the  manner  above  partly  described, 
— his  time  alternating  between  short  slumbers,  frequent 
and  protracted  mental  and  vocal  prayer,  the  reading  of 
the  Divine  office,  the  celebration  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice, 
and  patient  labor  around  his  little  sanctuary,  and  in 
his  little  garden, — when  about  eight  months  of  his  novi- 
tiate were  'expired,  our  hermit  one  day  heard  voices 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  197 

above  him  in  the  air,  and  looking  up  he  saw  baskets 
with  men  in  them  suspended  over  the  face  of  the  awful 
precipice,  but  at  a  dazzling  distance  overhead.  From 
catching  at  a  few  words,  spoken  by  these  men  above,  in 
the  native  Gaelic,  he  not  only  had  no  doubt  he  was 
yet  on  the  Irish  coast,  but  he  knew  from  the  occupation 
of  the  men,  who  continued  to  snare  the  birds  off  their 
nests,  with  nooses  of  horsehair,  affixed  to  long  rods, 
that  he  was  on  the  coast  of  Clare,  and  that  these  were 
the  "  Cliffs  of  Moher  ;  "  "  and,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  I 
will  wager  my  life  this  cave  I  now  use  as  my  church, 
and  presbytery,  and  granary,  is  no  other  than  the  much 
talked  of  subterraneous  passage  of  "  Laveragh  Lynch- 
agh,  where  he  used  to  conduct  his  victims  from  his  cas- 
tle to  this  precipice,  and  then  fling  them  to  the  ocean." 
As  our  hermit,  as  we  shall  in  future  call  him  occasion- 
ally, was  an  antiquarian,  and  as  he  knew  well  the  ocean 
here  was  about  two  miles  in  a  right  line  from  where  the 
castle  of  the  "long-haired  prince"  ruled,  he  concluded 
that  this  was  no  other  than  the  oft-spoken  of,  but  long 
lost  "  Boher  duraghe,"  or  "  dark  road,"  on  which  the 
victims  of  the  "  Laveragh "  were  led  to  eternity.  This 
was  our  hermit's  conclusion,  and  it  was  correct,  as  we 
shall  show  more  fully  in  a  subsequent  chapter,  leaving 
him  for  the  present  to  his  meditations  on  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  life,  and  the  wonderful  ways  of  God  !  The 
"  Te  Deum"  concluded  the  exercises  of  this  day,  and  he 


198  THE      PROPHET      OF 

prepared  to  offer  a  mass  of  thanksgiving  on  the  morrow, 
for  having  heard  the  voices  of  fellow-beings,  the  first 
since  the  shipwreck,  and  having  in  this  providential 
manner  gleaned  very  agreeable  information  regarding 
the  state  of  the  country,  from  the  protracted  dialogue 
of  two  industrious  bird-snarers  overhead.  He  misfit 
have  easily  made  himself  heard  by  these  friendly  peas- 
ants, and  through  their  assistance  get  released  from  his 
captivity  ;  but  having  now  lived  several  months  the  life 
of  a  hermit,  and  feeling  that  spiritually  he  was  a  gainer, 
and  being  under  a  species  of  conviction  that  God's  hand 
had  placed  him  here  for  some  ulterior  view,  he  overcame 
the  temptation  that  suggested  to  him  to  consult  for  his 
freedom  and  personal  safety,  and  resolved  for  "better 
for  worse,"  to  put  up  with  the  inconveniences  of  his 
state,  and  become  thus  more  dependent  on  God  for  his 
supplies. ! 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  199 


CHAPTEE    XVIII. 

THE     RAPPAKEES. 

Leaving  our  hermit  to  his  solitude,  and  his  ascetic  ex- 
ercises in  his  "  vast  cave,"  we  must  return  to  the  Cap- 
tain and  his  faithful  Achates  O'Mara,  in  their  new 
mode  of  life  on  the  favoring  declivities  and  haunts  of 
old  Knockmeldown.  When  the  report  of  the  rescue  of 
the  state-prisoner  became  general,  and  it  was  authenti- 
cated by  Cuddihy,  whose  laziness  led  to  his  arrest,  that 
O'Mara  was  the  principal  agent  in  that  disloyal  exploit, 
a  large  reward  was  offered  for  the  escaped  Captain,  and 
for  his  rescuer ;  and  as  the  only  way  of  escaping  their 
enemies,  they  had  to  take  to  the  hills  for  their  "  keep- 
ing." Though  the  peasantry  might  be  depended  on  as 
faithful,  hospitable,  and  all  that,  yet  the  Captain  did 
not  think  it  prudent  to  expose  their  patriotism  to  the 
persecution  that  awaited  it  in  case  of  discovery,  or  to 
the  temptation  of  the  liberal  ^reward  offered  in  the  gov- 


200  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

ernment  proclamation  for  his  own  arrest.  He  therefore 
at  once  made  up  his  mind  that  nothing  remained  for  him 
hut  to  embrace  the  proposal  of  his  companion,  to  "roam 
a  wild  Rapparee/'  till  such  time  as  Providence  might 
enable  him  to  take  a  more  active  part  in  the  emancipa- 
tion of  his  country  and  her  sons,  from  their  present  de- 
graded condition. 

'After  having  provided  themselves  with  a  sufficient 
supply  of  ammunition,  and  a  few  articles  of  heavy 
woollen  clothing,  with  some  provisions,  armed  with  pis- 
tol, rifle,  and  fowling-piece,  the  pair,  thus  equipped, 
under  cover  of  night  sought  the  remotest  wilds  of  the 
mountain.  There,  under  the  guidance  of  O'Mara,  the 
Captain  soon  found  himself  snugly  domiciled  in  a  sub- 
terraneous dwelling  of  three  chambers,  in  one  of  which 
was  a  "  heather  couch  dry,"  specially  prepared  for  his 
honor.  The  interior  of  this  artificial  underground  dwel- 
ling was  perfectly  dry  and  well  ventilated,  and  from  a 
wooden  candlestick  with  two  branches,  with  its  lower 
end  sunk  in  the  floor,  a  pair  of  well  dipped  rush  lights 
cast  their  tiny  chaste  light  around  the  doorless  apart- 
ments of  this  home  of  the  Rapparee.  It  may  seem  in- 
credible to  one  whose  knowledge  of  mountains  is  lim- 
ited to  the  Catskill,  the  Green  Mountains,  or  the  Alle- 
ghanies,  that  such  a  place  as  I  here  describe,  could  be 
formed  by  one  unaided  laborer  with  his  spade  or  uslaw7i." 
But  in  the  mountains  of  Erin  it  could,  and  in  a  few 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  201 

hours.  Here,  in  this  "  new  world,"  in  our  ideas  of 
mountains  are  generally  included  thick  forests,  precipi- 
tous ravines,  vast  rocks,  and  a  hard  gravelly  soil ;  whereas 
in  Ireland  the  mountains  are  bare  of  trees,  smooth  sur- 
faced, and  bald,  and  generally  have  a  crust  or  coat  of 
peat  surface,  of  from  five  to  fifty  feet  deep  ;  the  only 
shrub  or  vegetation  growing  on  their  sides  or  summits, 
being  the  heath  and  the  whort  vine,  intermingled  with 
a  sort  of  grass  with  a  downy  top  or  blossom,  called  in 
Irish  "  caravaun,"  and  exactly  resembling  cotton,  or 
the  down  of  the  swan.  There  one  needs  but  to  cut  a 
sod  of  the  tough  surface,  with  its  locks  of  graceful  heath 
attached,  and  underneath  to  dig  out  the  soft  turf  or 
peat,  and  with,  very  little  labor  a  cave  or  space  can  be 
formed  beneath,  of  several  feet  or  yards  square,  without 
the  slightest  danger  of  the  sides  or  surface  caving  in  ; 
and  what  is  still  stranger,  the  sides  and  bottom  in  a  few 
days  will  become  so  dry,  the  surface  appearing  as  if 
lined  with  a  dry  spongy  coating,  that  it  is  perfectly  free 
from  dampness.  Such  were  the  hiding-places  of  our 
forefathers  of  the  faith,  in  the  clays  of  persecution,  who 
like  the  primitive  Roman  martyrs,  had  to  return  to  the 
bowels  of  their  mother  Earth,  to  be  born  again  into  the 
blessed  life  of  ( 'In  ist  ianity,  or  suffer  the  most  cruel  treat- 
ment from  the  satanic  hatred  of  their  fellow-men  and 
fellow-citizens,  on  account  of  their  attachment  to  the 
sublime  lessons  and  salutary  restraints  of  the  Gospel  of 


202  THE      PROPHET      OF 

Jesus  Christ.  Poor  Ireland,  who  never  had  to  have  re- 
course to  such  haunts,  to  escape  the  injuries  of  her  Pa- 
gan children,  had  her  days  of  trial  only  deferred,  and 
in  the  vaunted  blazing  light  of  the  past  three  centuries 
had  to  hide  her  head  in  her  mountain  caves,  to  escape 
the  cruelty,  not  of  her  own  sons,  but  of  foreign  tyranny, 
and  the  persecution  of  an  imported  superstition  ! 

Such  caverns,  as  we  here  speak  of,  owing  to  the  in- 
dustry of  O'Mara,  were  numerous  on  the  breast  and 
sides  of  Knockmeldown,  his  previous  frequent  escapes 
from  gamekeepers,  rendering  such  hiding-places  neces- 
sary in  several  parts  of  his  hunting  routes.  The  only 
entrance  to  such  caves  was  from  overhead,  and  of  a  cir- 
cular form,  resembling  and  shaped  like  the  mouth  of  a 
church,  and  the  ventilation,  or  admittance  of  air  drafts 
was  promoted  by  two  other  smaller  apertures,  one 
towards  the  bottom,  which  also  served  as  a  conductor  of 
any  water  that  might  ooze  from  its  sides,  and  the  other, 
towards  the  roof  through  a  horn  or  tin  pipe  inserted  at 
the  top,  and  concealed  outside  amid  the  heather.  This 
was  the  residence  of  our  "  Rapparees  ;  "  by  day  and  by 
night,  for  months  and  for  years,  they  never  quitted  its 
gloom,  save  when  necessity  forced  them  to  look  out  for 
game,  or  when  the  cause  of  the  peasantry  called  them 
to  inflict  well-merited  punishment  on  a  cruel  landlord, 
or  a  grinding  agrarian  oppressor  of  the  poor. 

Many  and  daring  were  their  encounters  with  the  game- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  203 

keepers,  and  almost  superhuman  their  escapes  from  the 
pursuit  of  the  yeomanry  and  the  local  police.  Some- 
times they  would  ride  into  the  town  of  Cloughmore,  and 
by  the  light  of  the  moon,  or  at  day-dawn,  challenge  the 
sentry  on  guard,  with  "  hurrah  for  an  Irish  Republic, 
and  death  to  King  Greorge  ! "  on  other  occasions,  they 
would  attack  parties  of  four  and  five  policemen,  or  yeo- 
men from  their  mountain  rock  fastness,  and  rescue  some 
wretched  prisoners  being  conducted  to  jail  for  some 
slight  offence  against  landlord  law.  One  day,  disguised 
in  the  uniform  of  policemen,  they  would  visit  a  neigh- 
boring barrack  to  learn  the  secrets  and  plans  of  their 
enemies,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  they 
would  be  employed  in  drilling,  and  preparing  for  the  ex- 
pected rising,  the  peasantry  of  the  adjoining  parishes. 
Now  they  were  employed  in  the  act  of  disarming  a 
solitary  dragoon,  and  easing  him  of  Ins  despatches,  and 
again  they  would  summon  the  tyrant  of  some  rural 
castle  to  deliver  up  to  them  his  ammunition  and  fire- 
arms. In  fact  they  looked  on  themselves  as  at  war  with 
the  Government  which  held  their  country  in  bondage, 
and  they  looked  on  these  acts,  from  which  they  would 
otherwise  shrink  with  horror,  as  a  part  of  the  tactics 
of  the  guerilla-warfare  which  they  were  obliged  to  wage. 
Whether  or  not  they  were  justified  in  their  incursions 
on  their  enemies,  we  will  not  here  presume  to  decide, 
but  we  must  candidly  relate  the  leading  circumstances 


204  THE      PROPHET      OF 

at  least,  of  the  life  which  our  "  wild  Kapparees "  led 
while  unjustly  outlawed,  and  denied  the  privileges  of 
either  law  or  justice.  This  much  alone  we  must  say, 
that,  however  wild  their  conduct,  and  sudden '  the  chas- 
tisement which  they  were  the  instruments  of  inflicting 
on  the  cruel  and  the  unjust,  all  these  acts  of  theirs  fell 
infinitely  short  of  the  cowardly  cruelty  of  the  ruffian 
soldiery  against  the  ground-down  peasantry,  which  they 
were  authorized  to  plunder  and  madden  into  rebellion. 

As  an  instance  of  the  prowess  of  our  Rapparees,  in 
carrying  on  the  system  of  strategic  warfare,  to  which 
they  devoted  their  lives,  the  following  well-known  facts 
are  recorded  as  having  taken  place  in  the  city  of  Clon- 
mel.  A  young  farmer's  son,  of  the-  name  of  Holt, 
eighteen  years  of  age,  was  under  sentence  of  death,  his 
sole  crime  being,  to  be  found  with  a  fowling-piece  in  his 
possession  on  a  Sunday  morning,  at  break  of  day,  by  a 
party  of  police  yeomanry,  as  they  were  returning  from 
their  nightly  patrole  towards  the  town  of  Killenaule. 
After  having  been  felled  to  the  ground,  and  otherwise 
badly  treated  by  the  yeomanry,  the  brave  young  peasant 
was  conducted  to  the  next  barrack  of  English  soldiers 
of  the  line  ;  and  there,  having  been  tried  by  court- 
martial,  was  sentenced  to  death  by  haDging  in  the  front 
of  the  county  jail,  on  the  next  patron,  or  "  pattern  "  day 
of  market.  The  severity  of  the  sentence,  as  well  as  the 
extreme  youth,  and  well-known  good  character  of  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  205 

young  farmer,  created  the  most  lively  sympathy  in  his 
favor,  and  many  of  the  neighboring  gentry  interfered 
for  his  reprieve,  if  not  for  his  pardon,  and  among  others 
Lord  Barterborough,  of  whom  his  father  was  a  tenant. 
All  was  in  vain,  however  ;  Colonel  Clive  was  now  suc- 
ceeded in  command  by  one  whose  cruelty  was  proverbial, 
and  lost  no  opportunity  to  make  an  example  of  whoever 
was  so  unlucky  as  to  fall  into  his  power. 

The  united  prayers  of  priest  and  peasant,  and  gen- 
try and  nobility,  fell  unheeded  on  the  hardened  ears  of 
a  Government  whose  instincts  were  bloodthirsty,  and 
whose  hostility  to  the  people  was  only  equalled  by  their 
desire  to  overrun  and  plunder  those  whom  centuries  of 
misrule  had  completely  subjected  to  their  cruel  power. 
It  was  shown,  on  the  representation  of  the  most  impar- 
tial witnesses,  that  neither  the  young  man  nor  his  father, 
nor  any  of  his  relatives,  were  connected  with  the  United 
Irish  Society,0  nor  with  any  of  the  other  illegal  confed- 
erations of  the  country.  No  matter :  he  was  found 
with  arms  in  his  hands,  and  seemed  to  know  their  use, 
and  this  was  crime  enough  in  the  eyes  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  time  to  deprive  a  human  being  of  life,  and 
by  that  cruel  act  to  rob  themselves  of  a  brave  and  vir- 
tuous subject. 

The  "  pattern"  day  was  at  hand,  and  a  large  crowd 
of  people  assembled  on  the  fair  green  of  Olonmel,  gazing 

■*  This  and  a  few  other  anacronisins  are  unavoidable  in  such  a 
narrative  as  this.— Author. 


206  THE     PROPHET      OP 

with  horror  on  a  gallows  of  some  thirty- five  feet  high, 
which  stood  on  its  centre,  commanding  a  view  of  the 
town  and  its  vicinity.     Soon  after  the  slow  beating  of  a 
savage  drum,  intermingled  with  the  soul-stirring  and 
triumphant  melody  of  the  "  Boyne  Water,"  struck  ter- 
ror into  the  hearts  of  the  assembled  thousands.     Now  a 
large  body  of  cavalry,  with  drawn  swords,  rushed  along 
the  centre  of  the  road,   crying    "  Way  !   way  ! "    and 
striking  at  any  unfortunate  persons  or  wretched  animals 
which  were  not    quick   enough   in   attending   to  their 
war-cry.     A  company  of  royal  artillery,  with  six  pieces 
of  ordnance  loaded  with  "  grape,"  presided  over  by  as 
many  cannoneer^,  carrying  lighted  brands,  guarded  the 
entrances  to  the  green.     Next  came  a  large  body  of  in- 
fantry, four  deep,  in  the  centre  of  which  was  led  poor 
Holt,  firmly  handcuffed  and  tied  with  chains,  on  a  cart 
drawn  by  a  mule.    The  youth  held  his  face  buried  in  his 
hands,  and  was  apparently  in  tears.     The  death-warrant 
having  been  read,  and  the  rebellious  peasantry  having 
been  kept  at  a  safe  distance  by  the  fixed  bayonets  and 
threatening  aspects  of  the  military,  Holt,  having  been 
allowed  permission  by  the  Sheriff,  delivered  himself  of 
the  following  few  words  : 

"lam  now  going  to  appear  before  the  tribunal  of 
my  God,  whose  pardon  I  ask  for  all  my  sins,  and  from 
whose  mercy  I  expect  a  fairer  trial  than  I  got  from  those 
who  condemned  me  to  die  by  this  rope.  I  was  falsely 
accused  of  being  a  rebel,  and  I  was  never  guilty  of  any 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  207 

crime  against  king  or  country.  I  complain  of  the  treat- 
ment I  received  from  the  soldiers  who  arrested  me,  of 
the  conduct  of  my  jailers,  and,  above  all,  of  the  cruelty 
of  depriving  me  of  the  opportunity  of  having  recourse 
to  the  comforts  and  consolations  of  my  religion.  I  asked, 
I  begged,  I  prayed  for  the  services  of  a  priest  of  the 
Catholic  Church,  of  which  I  was  baptized  and  lived  an 
unworthy  member,  but  my  entreaties,  and  petitions,  and 
tears,  were  all  in  vain.  I  weep  not  for  having  my  course 
cut  off  so  soon,  nor  are  these  tears  shed  for  parents,  sis- 
ters, brothers,  or  comrades,  or  even  country,  though  I 
love  them  all  to  excess.  No,  no  ;  but  these  scalding 
torrents  flow  to  appease  the  anger  of  Heaven  for  sins 
and  frailties  that  I  have  not  had  opportunity  to  confess, 
or,  I  fear,  sufficient  time  to  atone  for,  by  my  heartfelt 
contrition  and  sorrow.  I  forgive  all  who  have  injured 
me,  and  pray  that  Cod  may  forgive  those  who'  have 
cruelly  robbed  me  of  those  consolatory  sacraments  that 
would  deprive  death  of  its  terrors,  and  render  this  scene 
one  of  rejoicing  and  gladness,  instead  of  one  of  tears  and 
repentance.  May  God  forgive  me,  as  I  forgive  all  men. 
Amen." 

During  the  delivery  of  this  brief  speech,  and  while 
the  hangman  was  busy  in  oiling  his  rope  and  preparing 
the  black  cap  for  his  victim,  a  cry  of  "  Way  !  way  ! — 
God  save  the  king  \"  was  uttered  in  a  stentorian  voice, 
between   the   two  lines   of  infantry  that   guarded   the 


208  THE      PROPHET      OF 

eastern  passage  to  the  green,  and  at  the  same  time  two 
dragoons  were  seen  rushing  up  at  full  gallop  to  where 
the'  Colonel  stood  at  the  head  of  his  troop. 

"  An  express  from  his  Excellency,  the  Lord  Lieuten- 
ant, to  Colonel  Bagwell !  "  cried  the  first  in  rank  of  the 
dragoons,  who,  from  his  epaulettes  and  superfine  scarlet, 
appeared  to  be  a  Captain  in  his  regiment.  The  seal 
was  instantly  broken  open  by  the  violent  Colonel,  the 
contents  glanced  over,  the  great  seal  at  the  bottom  ex- 
amined, and  in  a  voice  naturally  coarse,  but  now  ren- 
dered threefold  savage  by  suppressed  rage,  he  roared, 
"  Stop  the  execution  of  the  prisoner,  Sheriff !  Let  him 
be  remanded  back  to  his  cell  in  the  county  jail." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Colonel,"  said  the  soi-disant 
Captain  Doyle.  "  The  orders  are  not  to  remand  him 
back  to  prison,  but  to  be  conveyed  without  delay  to 
Dublin  Castle." 

"  Let's  see  !  Yes,  you  are  right,  Captain  Doyle.  I 
didn't  take  time  to  glean  the  whole  contents  of  his  Ex- 
cellency's despatch.  Hang  it  !  this  places  me  here  in 
a  very  awkward  position,  and  I  fear  will  have  a  very 
bad  effect  in  the  pacification  of  this  accursed  country. 
But  the  powers  that  be  must  have  their  own  way." 

"  I  agree  with  you,  Colonel,"  said  the  express  ;  "  and 
as  far  as  my  humble  opinion  went,  I  gave  it  freely  at  the 
Castle  ;  but  there  appears  to  have  been  some  influence 
from  the  country,  from  some  high  quarter,  brought  to 
bear  on  his  Excellency." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  209 

"  Yes,  I  don't  doubt  it.  There  is  a  stupid  lord 
here  in  the  neighborhood,  and  he  swore  he  should  have « 
him  pardoned,  or  lose  his  castle.  The  confounded  igno- 
ramus !  how  can  the  country  be  pacified  or  governed, 
unless  we  military  men  have  our  own  way  ?  But,  by 
Hercules  !  I  will  resign  this  command  unless  these  par- 
dons are  put  a  stop  to." 

"  I  beg  you,  however,  Colonel,  not  to  conclude  so  hur- 
riedly on  the  subject.  I  should  say  that  there  is  no  par- 
don involved  in  this  very  extraordinary  despatch.  It  is 
my  opinion  the  prisoner  is  ordered  to  the  Castle  because 
it  was  rumored  that  he  could  give  very  useful  information 
to  the  Government." 

"  Fudge  !  fudge  !  man,"  cried  the  Colonel,  whose 
anger  was  rising  to  its  storming  point.  "  He  has  no 
information  to  give,  nor  can  he  do  any  confounded  ser- 
vice to  our  people.  He  is  a  poor  lad,  who  knows  not 
the  definition  of  rebellion,  and  who  has  cried  himself  to 
death  because  I  would  not  allow  his  priest  to  visit  him. 
Take  'im  away  with  you,  in  the  devil's  name  !  and  I 
hope  it  will  be  a  long  day  again  before  I  am  made  such 
a  jackass  of,  as  I  am  by  your  despatch,  Captain  Doyle. 
Good  day,  sir." 

"  But,  Colonel,  won't  it  be  necessary  to  give  me  a 
few  men  to  escort  us  through  this  disturbed  county" — 

"  Disturbed  h — 11,  man  !  There  is  not  in  all  Ireland 
a  more  peaceful   district   than  this  where  I  have  com- 


210  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

mand.  Do  you  want  to  insult  me,  Captain  Doyle,  by 
assuming  that  a  county  where  I  have  commanded  for 
nine  months  could  be  disturbed  ?  No,  sir ;  there  is  not 
a  rebel  nor  robber  in  all  this  military  district,  nor  in  the 
adjoining  ones,  except  two  cowardly  poachers  who  infest 
the  vicinity  of  Cloughmore.  I  suppose  you  arid  your 
brave  companion — a  Scotsman,  I  guess — will  not  run 
away  from  two  shoeless  cowardly  poachers  !  No,  Cap- 
tain, as  the  despatch  says  not  a  word  about  sending  an 
escort,  and  as  the  matter  has  been  taken  out  of  my 
hands,  I  wash  my  hands  of  all  further  responsibility  ; 
and  giving  you  charge  of  the  prisoner,  beg  to  say, 
farewell,  Captain  Doyle;"  and  so  having  said,  he  or- 
dered his  men  back  to  Clonmel  Barracks,  cursing,  in 
under  tones,  the  authority  that  deprived  him  of  his  vic- 
tim, and  by  robbing  him  of  his  temper,  spoiled  the 
pleasure  that  he  anticipated,  on  the  evening  of  this  day, 
with  a  party  of  his  friends,  whom  he  expected  to  com- 
pliment liim  on  his  triumph,  and  flatter  his  abilities  for 
governing. 

Meantime  Captain  Doyle  and  his  aid,  who  were  no 
others  than  Charles  O'Donnell  and  O'Mara,  having  se- 
cured Holt  on  the  horse  of  the  latter,  made  off  at  full 
speed  to  their  retreats  in  the  mountain,  rejoicing  at  the 
success  that  attended  their  plans.  In  order  to  compre- 
hend how  this  success  was  attained,  it  will  be  necessary 
to  bear  in  mind  that  O'Donnell  and  his  companion  had 
repeatedly  captured  and  eased  of  their  arms,  clothing 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  211 

and  despatches,  certain  express  dragoons  sent  from  Dublin 
Castle  to  various  parts  of  the  country,  to  camps  or  garri- 
sons where  colonels  and  superior  officers  commanded ;  and 
it  was  by  means  of  the  uniforms  thus  obtained,  and  seals 
attached  to  the  intercepted  letters,  that  they  were  able 
to  pass  themselves  off  as  Captain  Doyle  and  Sergeant 
Hainy,  and  thus  rescued  Holt  from  the  gallows.  This  same 
young  man  afterwards,  in  '98,  became  a  distinguished 
guerilla  rebel  chief,  and  the  bravest  of  the  brave.    When 
the  insurgent  troops  were  cut   to  pieces  and  dispersed, 
Holt   retired  with  a  small  band  of  trusty  followers  to 
the  mountains  of  Wicklow  and  in  the  Galties,  where 
he  succeeded  in  annoying  the  king's  army  for  several 
months  so  successfully  that  the  Government  were  com- 
pelled to  treat  with  him,  and  finally  to  secure  him  full 
indemnity  and  a  free  pardon  in  his  native  land.     After 
having  lived  to  a  good  old  age,  and  reared  and  educated 
a  fine  family,  this  very  Holt  died  a  few  years  since,  la- 
mented by  all  who  knew  him,  leaving  behind  him  the 
proud  distinction  of  a  noble  patriot,  an  honest  man  and 
fervent   Christian.       Happy   man,  of  enviable    life  and 
death.     The  ancients  would  have  raised  an  imperishable 
mausoleum  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  such  ;  yet  Ire- 
land, so  barren  of  such  heroes  of  late  years,  and  so  de- 
luded and  cursed  by  a  generation  of  quack  and  counter- 
feit would-be  heroes,  allows  the  body  of  Holt,  her  bravest 
son.  to  lie  undistinguished  among  the  vulgar  dead,  with- 
out a  stone  to  mark  the  spot  where  he  sleeps  ! 


212  THE      PKOPHET      OF 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE    CAPTAIN     RENOUNCES    THE    LIFE    OF    a    RAPPAREE, 
AND    RETURNS    TO    FRANCE. 

'Notwithstanding  the  many  and  daring  adventures 
which  the  life  of  a  Rapparee  offered  to  the  bold  patriot 
who  j>referred  the  wild  mountain  cave  to  the  slavery  of 
more  refined  dwellings,  it  must  be  confessed  that  such  a 
life  was  any  thing  but  agreeable  to  the  accomplished 
Captain  of  the  "  Chasseurs  de  Vincennes."  He  ^aw 
enough  of  the  country,  and  was  sufficiently  intimate 
with  the  minds  of  the  peasantry,  to  be  convinced  that 
there  was  no  immediate  prospect  of  amelioration  for 
either.  He  consequently  came  to  the  resolution  of  re- 
turning back  to  his  adopted  country  as  soon  as  an  op- 
portunity would  offer.  His  departure  was  accelerated, 
too,  by  the  fact  that  his  brother  Thomas,  who  had  been 
imprisoned  ever  since  the  escape  of  the  priest,  had  lately 
obtained  his  liberty,  on  condition  of  never  again  setting 
his  foot  on  his  native  land  or  any  other  part  of  the  world 
where  Britain  held  sway. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  213 

The  brothers  found  means  of  communicating  with 
one  another  ;  and  it  was  determined,  after  the  almost  uni- 
versal instinct  of  the  Irish  heart,  that  France  should  be- 
come the  land  of  their  choice.  There,  the  influence  of 
the  Captain  at  court  would  be  made  subsidiary  to  the 
advancement  and  comfort  of  his  brother's  family.  There, 
too,  Miss  O'Donnell  and  her  sister  could  obtain  that 
education  which  was  denied  them  in  their  native  land, 
and  afterwards  take  their  proper  place  in  society,  which 
the  bigotry  of  the  ascendant  Church  shut  them  out  from 
at  home. 

Beautiful  and  glorious  France  !  how  attached  the 
exile  of  Erin  is  to  thy  vine-clad  hills  and  fruit-bearing 
plains'!  Never  has  a  son  of  Ireland  trod  on  thy  fertile 
soil,  that  his  heart  has  not  felt  itself  beat  freer  within 
his  bosom,  and  that  he  has  not  thanked  God  for,  even 
if  it  were  his  temporary  escape  from  the  cruel  yoke  of 
England.  And  the  most  untutored  peasant  on  the  hill- 
side of  Munster  or  Connaught  almost  adores  thy  chivalry 
and  thy  bravery,  and  looks  to  thee,  of  all  the  other  na- 
tions of  the  earth,  for  that  liberty  and  final  emancipation 
after  which  his  soul  sighs,  and  without  which  it  can 
never  be  satisfied,  notwithstanding  the  smooth  speeches 
of  demagogues  and  the  loyal  preachings  of  self-consti- 
tuted leaders  !  There  is  a  tradition  as  wide  as  the  four 
seas  of  Erin,  as  deep  and  as  sanguine  as  the  Irish  heart, 
and  as  firmly  rooted  as  an  inspired  prophecy  in  the  soul 


214  THE      PROPHET      OF 

of  Ireland,  that  liberty  shall  never  beam  over  her  weep- 
ing  countenance   till   thy   imperial   eagle,   0   France ! 
perches  on  her  southern  coast.     Hence,  in  every  part  of 
Ireland,  from  the  cold  north  to  the  sunny  south,  from 
the  wild  romantic  west  to  the  well  tilled  and  commercial 
east,  in  every  house  and  at  every  fireside,  from  the  fisher- 
man's hut  on  the  seashore  to  the  cottage  of  the  farmer 
or  the  castle  of  the  lord,  every  son  of  France  is  received 
in  hospitality  with  a  "  Ceade  mille  faulte,"  "a  hundred 
thousand  welcomes."     "  Tros  Tyriusve"  every  Irishman 
looks  on  every  Frenchman  as  a  brother  more  fortunate, 
but  of  the  same  race  with  himself,  and  a  brother  from 
whose  bravery  and  victory,  like  that  of  Abraham,  he  ex- 
pects to  be  yet  rescued  from  the  cruel  captivity  of  the 
worse  than  pagan  tyrants  of  England.     May  Providence 
hasten  the  fulfilment   of   these  hopes  and  aspirations, 
and  may  none  of  our  readers  ever  die  till  the  shamrock 
and  the  lily  are  seen  blended  together  in  sweet  union 
in  all  places  that  are  now  desecrated  by  the  beastly  em- 
blems of  Britain  !     Let  Louis  Napoleon,  the  present 
Emperor  of  the  French,  take  instruction  and  warning 
from  the  error  of  his  great  uncle,  who,  because  he  neg- 
lected  to  fulfil  the  mission  he  received  from  Heaven  for 
the  conquest  of  England,  was  rejected  like  Saul,  'and 
died  miserably  under   the  hands  of  the  enemy  of  God, 
whom   he   had  not  the  heart  to  subdue.     The  present 
Emperor  of  France  has  it  in  his  power  not  only  to  equal 


THE      KUINED      ABBEY.  215 

bat  eclipse  the  glory  of  his  uncle,  if  he  is  but  faithful  to 
the  mission  to  which  humanity  and  religion  call  him  ; 
that  is,  to  be  the  defender  of  the  faith,  the  rebuilder  of 
the  divine  temple  of  God,  which  is  the  church,  and  sub- 
duer  of  worse  than  heathen  England,  which,  by  her  cruel 
persecution  of  the  Just  One  in  every  nation  in  which 
she  has  power,  is  the  evident  forerunner  of  Anti-Christ, 
and  whose  annihilation  is  fervently  prayed  for  by  the 
wretched  millions  over  whom  her  cursed  sway  extends. 
Let  his  majesty  inscribe  "  Delenda  est  Cakthago," 
"  down  with  England  !  "  on  his  imperial  banners,  or  let 
his  race  and  his  dynasty  perish  for  ever  from  the  face  of 
the  earth  and  the  memory  of  men.  France  owes  Erin 
a  debt  of  gratitude  in  return  for  the  services  of  her  glo- 
rious brigade,  as  well  as  for  her  contribution  to  her 
chivalry  and  statesmanship,  by  the  emigration  thither 
of  some  of  the  noblest  Irish  families  whose  descendants 
have  shed  a  lustre  on  her  crown,  and  have  been  the  best 
defenders  of  her  liberties  and  tSnown  ;  and  the  liquida- 
tion of  this  debt  can  only  be  effected  by  the  liberation 
of  Ireland  from  the  yoke  of  Britain  by  the  active  co- 
operation of  the  former. 

France  gave  liberty  to  America  by  sending  her  fleets 
and  men,  and  money  and  statesmen,  to  aid  her  strug- 
gling sons  against  England,  and  this  she  did,  without 
being  under  any  obligation  to  the  weak  colonies,  through 
sole  love  of  liberty  and  hatred  of  British  tyranny.     Yet, 


216  THE      PEOPHET      OF 

Ireland  endeared  to  her,  and  connected  with  her  by  the 
most  intimate  historical  ties?  she  has  permitted  for 
seven  centuries  to  lie  hound  in  chains  under  the  weight 
of  the  most  gigantic  and  cruel  oppression  that  ever  ex- 
isted !  When  all  Europe  was  oppressed  and  overrun  by 
savage  war,  Ireland,  then,  was  at  the  meridian  of  her 
civilization  and  glory,  and  there  was  no  nation  of  Europe 
to  which  she  was  not  a  benefactor  through  her  scholars, 
her  missionaries,  her  artists,  her  saints,  as  well  as  through 
her  colleges,  her  religious  houses,  her  hospitals  and  her 
asylums  ;  and  yet,  all  Europe  seems  to  have  forgotten 
the  benefactions  of  the  "  Insula  Sanctorum"  and  all  to 
have  sinned  by  the  dark  vice  of  ingratitude. 

When  with  straining  eyes  to  the  west,  the  ojmressed 
peoples  of  Europe  chanted  the  following  hymn,  little 
was  it  dreamed  that  the  day  would  come,  when  the  star 
of  Erin's  supremacy  would  have  so  suddenly  and  hopeless- 
ly gone  down,  or  that  the  mother  of  European  civilization 
should  have  to  call,  and  alas  !  call  in  vain,  on  the  na- 
tions that  graduated  in  her  schools,,  for  a  practical  return 
of  that  knowledge  in  "science,  arts  and  arms,"  which 
she  communicated  to  them  from  her  abundance,  and 
gratuitously  in  their  hour  of  poverty  and  destitution  ! 

"  Far  westward  lies  an  Isle  of  ancient  fame, 
By  nature  blessed,  and  Erin  is  her  name  ; 
Enrolled  in  books  :  exhaustless  is  her  store, 
Of  veiny  silver  and  of  golden  ore ; 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  217 

Her  fruitful  soil  for  ever  teems  with  wealth, 
With  gejns  her  waters,  and  her  air  with  health ; 
Her  waving  furrows  yield  with  bending  corn, 
And  arts  and  arms  her  envied  sons  adorn." 

Doxattjs. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  August,  1781,  after  a  little  more 
than  four  years  sojourn  in  his  native  land,  Charles  0'- 
Donnell,  with  his  brother  Thomas  and  all  the  imme- 
diate relatives,  hid  an  eternal  adieu  to  Ireland,  and  re- 
turned to  his  adopted  home  on  board  an  Irish  merchant 
vessel  bound  for  "  Havre  de  Grace."  His  embarkation 
on  the  same  vessel  that  carried  his  brother  and  relatives 
was  attended  by  no  small  danger,  owing  to  the  vigilance 
of  the  authorities,  who,  notwithstanding  the  comparative 
liberality  of  the  Irish  government  of  that  day,  could  not 
change  their  cruel  natures,  and  with  all  the  vaunted 
triumphs  of  1782,  were  still  of  the  old  intolerant  and 
ascendant  stamp  !  Besides,  there  was  a  liberal  reward 
offered  for  the  Captain's  arrest,  and  the  chance  of  secu- 
ring it  exercised  a  greater  influence  on  the  minds  of  the 
officials  of  that  day,  than  all  the  eloquence  of  Grattan 
and  Flood.  The  ship  cleared  out  from  the  port  of  Water- 
ford,  but  the  Captain,  named  Philan,  was  let  into  the 
secret  of  O'DonnelFs  intended  embarkation,  and  he  gave 
his  instructions  as  to  the  time  and  place  of  his  taking 
him  on  board.  Accordingly,  O'Donnell  having  disguised 
himself  as  a  sailor,  went  on  by  foot  from  his  hiding-place 

10 


218  THE      PROPHET      OF 

to  Youghall,  where  he  managed,  by  the  aid  of  a  fisher- 
man, to  reach  "  Cable  Island,"  a  huge  mass  of  rock  some 
two  miles  in  circumference  at  the  base,  cast  at  the  very- 
mouth  of  Youghall  Harbor  ;  and  after  having  secreted 
himself  here,  for  twenty  or  thirty  hours,  he  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  joining  his  beloved  relatives.  The  pleasantly  sit- 
uated town  of  Youghall,  washed  by  the  sea  and  the  Black- 
water  on  its  southern  and  eastern  sides,  and  sheltered 
on  the  west  and  north  by  delightful  hills,  with  its  face 
turned  to  the  rising  sun,  was  then  as  it  is  partially  yet, 
one  of  the  strongholds  of  Protestant  ascendency  and 
traitorous  loyalty  to  England.  Hence,  it  was  an  enter- 
prise of  no  small  risk  to  embark  from  its  harbor  or  escape 
the  vigilance  of  its  Orange  myrmidons.  As  he  crossed 
the  long  bridge  between  Waterford  and  Cork  Counties, 
he  was  arrested  by  the  guard,  and  had  to  submit  to  a 
personal  search  and  other  insults,  ere  he  was  allowed  to 
pass.  As  he  approached  the  town,  he  saw  a  great  con- 
course of  people  assembled  on  the  strand,  and  soon 
learned  that  it  was  assembled  to  witness  the  flogging  of 
three  unhappy  men  whose  crime  was  that  they  refused 
to  cry  "  H-ll  to  the  Pope,"  or  drink  other  loyal  toasts 
proposed  by  their  oppressors.  The  form  of  punishment 
wTas  this.  The  men  were  divested  of  their  clothing, 
completely  denuded,  their  hands  were  tied  together,  and 
with  a  rope  affixed,  were  fastened  to  a  "  triangle/''  or  to 
the  top  of  three  stout  poles  stuck  into  the  sand.,  and  fas- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  219 

tened  at  the  end.  In  .this  position,  their  hands  tied 
above  their  heads,  their  faces  together,  and  each  with 
one  leg  firmly  fastened  to  the  stakes  or  lower  part  of  the 
poles,  these  poor  men  had  to  suffer  the  cruel  lashes  of  a 
furious  and  barbarous  militia,  or  renounce  their  religion 
by  committing  foul  blasphemy  against  the  most  sacred 
articles  of  the  oldest  Christian  creed  in  the  world  !  His 
feelings  on  witnessing  this  heart-rending  scene,  all  but 
betrayed  O'Donnell  to  the  fury  of  the  yeomanry,  who 
noticed  his  taciturnity,  and  ordered  him  to  quit  a  scene 
where  none  but  the  "loyal"  alone  were  admitted  even 
as  spectators.  "  It  was  fortunate  that  you  chanced  to 
come  on  this  playday  of  the  yeomen,"  said  Linehan, 
who  steered  him  to  the  island,  "  for  if  they  had  not  this 
flogging  to  engage  their  attention,  it  would  be  impos- 
sible for  a  bird  to  leave  this  part  unknown  to  the  vil- 
lains." 

"  Indeed,  Mr.  Linehan  !  They  must  be  very  vigi- 
lant and  loyal,  then,  in  your  old  borough." 

"As  vigilant  as  ould  Nic,  sir,  and  as  loyal  as  well- 
fed  bloodhounds,  as  long  as  they  are  allowed  the  plun- 
der of  the  poor  Catholics.     God  help  them." 

"  Are  not  the  Catholics  by  far  more  numerous  than 
those  miscreants  ?  "  asked  the  Captain. 

"  Yes,  they  are  two  to  one  ;  but  you  know  our  re- 
ligion tells  us  to  bear  persecution  patiently,  and  the 
clergy  are  continually  forbidding  the  effusion  of  Chris- 
tian blood." 


220  THE      PROPHET      0  F^ 

"  Ay,  but  the  true  Christian  blood  is  daily  shed  in 
torrents  by  worse  than  pagan  savages,  and  if  resistance 
was  ever  justifiable  in  self-defence,  it  is  now  justifiable, 
"lis  better  to  die  at  once,  than  to  lead  such  wretched 
lives.  It  would  be  much  better  for  those  unhappy  men 
who  are  cut  up  under  the  triangle,  to  be  shot  instantly, 
than  to  suffer  such  a  torturing  living  death." 

"  I  allow  it  would,  but  as  they  suffer  for  religion's 
sake,  will  not  God  reward  such  suffering,  and  are  they 
not  martyrs  ?  and  the  old  martyrs,  you  see,  never  re- 
belled, although  they  often,  at  least  the  Christians,  had 
it  in  their  power  to  overthrow  the  cruel  tyranny  that 
persecuted  them,  as  we  read  in  history  and  the  lives  of 
the  Holy  Fathers." 

"  Ay,  I  see  you  take  a  very  Christian  view  of  these 
things.  I  must  confess  I  have  not  so  much  of  the  spirit 
of  the  martyr  as  you,  my  friend.  For  if  I  was  more 
powerful  than  my  enemy,  as  you  are  in  that  city,  I 
would  make  him  the  sufferer,  especially  if  he  was  a 
criminal  and  deserving  of  death." 

With  this  and  such  other  conversation,  the  passage 
to  the  Island  Rock  was  shortened,  the  landing  was  soon 
made,  and  having  paid  the  honest  fisherman  a  guinea, 
O'Donnell  waited  in  security  for  the  vessel  on  its  return 
to  beautiful  France  ! 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  221 


CHAPTER    XX. 

MAC     AN     'ULLER,     OR     THE     EAGLE'S     SON. 

Father  O'Donnell  had  already  spent  a  novitiate  of 
one  year  and  a  day,  in  his  vast  cell.  He  saw  the  glo- 
rious face  of  the  summer  sun  change  to  the  golden  and 
more  chaste  one  of  autumn.  He  witnessed  and  with- 
stood his  sour  and  uncheering  aspect  during  the  short, 
but  tedious  hours  of  winter,  and  he  observed  and  re- 
joiced at  his  triumphant  exodus,  from  hyemal  gloom, 
through  the  waves  and  tempests  of  equinoctial  barriers, 
towards  the  more  promising  regions  of  genial  spring. 
He  saw,  and  went  through  the  worst  of  his  new  life, 
the  period  of  probation  and  inception,  and  he  calculated 
to  make  this  his  nature-built- tenement,  his  home  while 
he  lived,  and  his  grave  when  he  died  !  He  was  con- 
tinually employed  mentally  in  acts  of  worship  and  ado- 
ration, and  corporally  in  recitation  of  "  the  divine 
office,"  in  the  celebration  of  Mass,  and  finally  in  ex- 
ploring his  cave,  and  in  working  at  the  sanctuary  and 


222  THE      PROPHET      OF 

altar  on  which  he  celebrated  the  awful  mysteries  of  the 
Christian  Sacrifice.  True,  he  had  no  "  minister "  or 
clerk  to  serve  his  Mass,  but,  under  the  circumstances,  or 
in  any  case  of  ordinary  necessity,  the  services  of  a  clerk 
at  Mass  are  dispensed  with  by  the  Church.  The  writer 
of  this  book  has  often  been  obliged,  within  the  past  five 
years,  even  in  this  very  State  of  New  York,  to  celebrate 
the  Holy  Sacrifice  without  an  assistant ;  a  thing  which 
we  presume  has  happened  a  thousand  times,  in  various 
parts  of  the  wide  field  of  missionary  labor,  compre- 
hended in  these  United  States  !  This  was  not  indeed 
the  hardest  necessity  which  our  hermit-priest  had  to 
contend  with.  He  had  in  the  course  of  time,  after  his 
first  supplies  were  consumed,  to  grind  the  flour  from 
which  to  make  his  bread  out  of  the  few  ears  of  wheat 
which  he  raised  in  his  little  garden,  or  from  what 
the  rooks  brought  him,  and  he  had  to  bake  his  pure  un- 
leavened altar  breads  between  two  stones  instead  of 
irons.  And,  at  a  later  period  than  that  we  now  de- 
scribe, he  depended  on  Providence  and  the  ocean,  which 
once,  on  occasion  of  great  scarcity,  brought  him  a  cask 
of  wine,  which,  with  extreme  economy,  proved  sufficient 
for  the  necessities  of  his  altar,  during  the  remainder  of 
his  life  ! 

The  Avater  which  he  required  for  the  sacrifice,  as 
well  as  for  his  own  necessities,  had  to  be  caught  from  a 
single  drop  of  distillation  which  fell  from  the  roof  of  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBE^Y.  223 

cave  ;  yet  it  not  only  afforded  asufficient  reservoir  after 
a  day's  accumulation,  for  the  purposes  of  extinguishing 
thirst  and  for  cooking  the  hermit's  meals,  but  the  very 
birds  supplied  their  wants  from  its  abundance  !  And 
these  winged  neighbors  of  our  hero  became  so  familiar 
with  him,  and  so  little  feared  his  presence,  that  he  sel- 
dom took  his  daily  meal  without  having  a  crowd  of  them 
around  him  to  pick  up  the  crumbs  that  fell  from  his 
frugal  table  !  At  first,  it  was  only  a  robin-redbreast 
or  a  "  blue-bird  "  which  took  these  liberties,  but,  after  a 
short  time,  and  especially  during  the  winter,  the  wild- 
dove,  the  hawk  and  the  very  eagle,  monarch  of  the 
feathered  race  himself,  flew  into  the  cave  in  search  of 
food,  or  to  observe  the  movements  of  the  new  tenant  of 
this,  their  undisputed  retreat  since  creation. 

When  the  devotional  exercises  of  the  forenoon  were 
terminated,  and  till  his  hour  of  refreshment,  which  was 
about  three  in  the  afternoon,  our  hermit  was  employed 
in  carving  sacred  images,  on  and  around  his  altar, 
except  when  occasionally  he,  by  way  of  variety,  devoted 
a  day  or  two  in  exploring  the  cave,  and  measuring  its 
height,  width  and  length.  The  height  and  extent  of 
the  cave  near  the  mouth,  on  the  ocean  cliff,  was  consid- 
erable, being  from  sixty  to  a  hundred  feet  high,  and  of 
equal  breadth  ;  but,  as  you  advanced  landwards,  it  as- 
sumed the  form  of  a  corridor,  about  four  feet  wide,  and 
ten  in  height.    The  hermit  made  several  unsuccessful  at- 


224  THE      PROPHET      OF 

tempts  to  reach  the  end  of  this  passage,  which  seemed 
to  be  endless,  and  which  from  the  smoothness  and  regu- 
larity of  its  sides  and  roofs,  seemed  to  be  chiselled  out 
by  the  hand  of  skilful  art,  rather  than  a  rude  formation 
of  irregular  and  fantastic  nature. 

One  day,  however,  after  repeated  unsuccessful  pre- 
vious attempts,  the  Father  providing  himself  with 
several  of  the  wax  candles  which  he  had  rescued  from 
the  wreck,  and  of  which  he  was  very  sparing  on  account 
of  the  altar,  determined  to  get  to  the  end  of  the  cave, 
should  it  lead  even  to  the  "  Tire  na  hoge,"  or  "  elysium 
of  perpetual  youth,"  of  the  ancient  Irish,  and  with  this 
determination  he  set  out  on  his  exploring  discovery  im- 
mediately after  his  Mass. 

On  and  on  he  moved,  by  a  long  and  level  smooth 
path,  apparently  well  beaten,  till  he  had  advanced  a 
distance  that  appeared  to  his  fancy  to  be  several  miles, 
but  from  mentally  counting  his  paces,  he  judged  was 
not  far  from  being  two  miles  from  his  starting  point. 
He  soon  after  this  reached  an  irregular  ascent,  which,  on 
a  hurried  examination,  he  concluded  to  be  the  remains 
of  broken  stairs  descending  from  an  upper  chamber. 
Fixing  his  candle  between  the  fragments  of  a  broken 
rock  at  the  foot  of  this  ascent,  he  crept  up  over  it, 
where,  to  his  delight  and  astonishment,  the  light  of 
heaven  and  the  rays  of  the  cheering  sun  fell  on  his  ob- 
scured vision.     He  approached  the  crevice  through  which 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  225 

the  light  was  admitted,  and  placing  his  eye  close  to  it, 
he  could  distinctly  see  the  ruin  of  an  old  church  or 
abbey,  with  its  creeping  ivy,  shattered  window  mullions 
of  stone,  and  the  slabs  and  tombstones  of  the  dead 
which  were  buried  within  its  once  consecrated  walls. 

"  Alas  !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  I  see  now,  and  know  too 
well  where  I  am  ;  for  have  I  not  here  under  my  eye 
evidences  of  the  civilization  of  England  in  the  ruin  and 
desolation  that  exist  in  this  once  sacred  edifice  conse- 
crated to  the  worship  of  the  Most  High  ?  I  will  return 
to  my  cave  home  over  the  Atlantic  wave  at  the  end  of 
this  dark  gallery,  and  think  my  lot  happy  to  be  able  to 
live  in  my  native  land,  without  being  subject  to  the 
laws  or  exactions  of  Britain." 

He  was  about  to  return,  when,  as  if  to  banish  every 
shadow  of  doubt  from  his  mind,  as  to  where  he  was, 
he  spied  two  shepherd  lads  driving  their  flocks  of  sheep 
within  the  ruin,  which  was  used  as  a  pen  as  well  as  a 
cemetery,  and  he  heard  one  asking  the  other,  in  the 
native  dialect,  "  Avoic  atJiu  an  fuller?"  "Did  you  see 
the  eagle  ?  "  The  hermit  waited  to  hear  no  more,  but 
made  the  best  speed  he  could  back  to  his  great  cave. 

By  way  of  satisfying  the  minds  of  our  readers  as  to 
the  probability  of  this  cave  which  we  have  described, 
and  such  like  subterraneous  caverns,  being  the  work  of 
nature,  we  will  merely  remind  them  of  the  powerful 
agencies  of  fire  and  water  which  are  begotten  in  the 

10* 


226  THE      PROPHET      OF 

womb  of  the  earth,  and  which  are  working  constant 
changes  and  partial  revolutions  beneath  her  surface.  It 
is  not  at  all  impossible,  but  most  likely,  that  the  sub- 
terraneous passage  described  by  us  in  this  chapter  was 
formed  by  the  gradual  draining  off  of  a  large  body  of 
water  which  once  inundated  the  country  back  of  the 
cliffs  of  3Ioher,  and  took  this  nearest  course  to  the 
ocean.  Very  probably  it  has  been  the  work  of  thou- 
sands of  years,  and  that  a  great  part  of  the  work  was 
done  before  the  stratum  through  which  it  has  been 
formed  had  attained  its  present  petrified  and  durable 
shape.  There  is  a  remarkable  illustration  of  the  force 
of  water  in  excavations  of  this  sort,  at  Xorth  Adams  in 
Massachusetts,  where,  besides  the  formation  of  a  natural 
bridge,  the  hard  marble  rock  has  been  scooped  out  to 
the  depth  of  some  thirty  or  forty  feet  for  a  distance  of 
near  a  mile  in  length.  Had  this  celebrated  natural 
curiosity  taken  place  under  ground,  instead  of  being  on 
the  earth's  surface,  it  would  form  exactly  such  another 
cave  or  passage  as  that  which  reached  from  the  ruin 
of  the  castle  "  Laveragh  Lynchagh,"  and  subsequently 
that  of  the  abbey  of  Augustinian  monks,  to  the  Atlan- 
tic Ocean.  This  is  but  one  way,  however,  of  accounting 
for  the  existence  of  this  wonderful  cavern  ;  the  reader 
will  have  to  consult  the  geologist  for  further  light  on 
such  formations. 

The  hermit-priest  had  returned  from  his  antiquarian 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  227 

expedition  to  the  end  of  his  underground  avenue,  and 
from  the  day's  fatigue  felt  rather  an  unusual  appetite 
for  his  meal  of  dried  fish  and  wild  salad,  when  the 
screaming  of  the  male  eagle,  which  he  had  named  Hec- 
tor, attracted  his  attention.  It  was  the  season  of  incu- 
bation, and  the  eyry  was  yet  untenanted,  save  by  the 
female  eagle,  and  hence  he  thought  it  strange  that  he 
should  hear  the  same  repeated  minute  screamings  and 
chirpings  and  loud  cacklings  as  when  the  eaglets  were 
roused  to  the  prey.  The  screeching  becoming  louder 
and  more  alarming,  our  hero  moved  towards  the  mouth 
of  the  cave,  where,  to  his  utter  amazement,  he  found 
the  aforesaid  king  of  birds  nicknamed  Hector,  with  his 
wings  spread  over  a  beautiful  child,  apparently  asleep  ; 
and  no  doubt  the  unnatural  and  alarming  shrill  screams 
were  so  many  urgent  invitations  to  his  partner,  Andro- 
mache, the  eagless,  to  come  and  feast  on  the  noble  cap- 
tive of  the  day.  The  hermit-priest  immediately  grasped 
the  child,  whom  he  finally,  not  without  some  difficulty, 
rescued  and  secured  from  the  merciless  claws  of  his  royal 
neighbors  of  the  feathered  tribes.  His  first  impression 
was  that  the  child  was  dead  ;  but  on  pressing  it  to  his 
bosom  and  placing  his  mouth  over  its  nostrils,  he  found 
its  heart  beating  and  perceived  that  it  breathed  ;  and 
with  a  little  care  it  soon  revived  from  the  swoon  into 
which  the  rapid  flight  of  its  captor  through  the  air  had 
thrown  it.     It  was  a  charming  male  child,  apparently 


22S  THE      PROPHET      OF 

of  some  months  old,  and  the  scarlet  silk  frock,  with  the 
gold  and  silver  embroidery  of  its  head-dress  and  little 
sandals,  pointed  it  out  as  belonging  to  wealthy  if  not 
noble  parents.  The  venerable  Father  was  in  ecstasies  ! 
He  did  not  know  what  to  think.  Was  it  not  plain  that 
the  hand  of  God  had  conducted  him  to  this  spot  ? 
What  was  to  be  done  with  the  infant  "  Mac  an  'uller  ?  " 
How  could  he  support  it  by  a  sufficient  supply  of  proper 
nourishment  in  the  horrid  cavern  ?  But  will  not  the 
Lord,  who  sent  it,  provide  the  food,  as  he  does  for  the 
young  eagles  ?  Is  it  possible  that  the  half-sleeping 
vision  which  he  lately  had  was  a  true  prediction  or 
supernatural  revelation,  the  fulfilment  of  which  had 
already  commenced  ?  "  Surely,"  he  continued,  in  so- 
liloquy, "  the  Lord  has  not  seen  me  worthy  to  reveal  to 
me  the  future  secret  but  glorious  destinies  that  are  in 
store  for  my  beloved  country  ;  and  yet  I  cannot  conceal 
from  myself  that  these  unbidden  inspirations  have  passed 
before  my  mind,  and  that  this  unexpected  and  extraordi- 
nary portion  of  my  late  visions  is  the  first  which  I  find 
fulfilled.  0  beauteous  and  noble  " Mac  an  'idler!" 
thrice  welcome  be  thou  to  the  arms  of  thy  strange  but 
loving  father  !  0  my  God,  bless  this  child  !  nourish, 
protect,  and  teach  him  to  do  thy  will  here  on  earth,  to 
the  glory  of  thy  name,  the  honor  of  this  thy  faithful 
kingdom  of  Ireland,  and  the  salvation  of  his  own  soul  ! 
Fain  would  I  now,  like  Simeon  of  old,  close  my  eyes  on 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  229 

this  world,  since  they  have  seen,  and  my  arms  have  em- 
braced the  stock,  the  plant  and  the  root  from  which 
will  spring  the  DELIVERER,  of  my  holy  country  from 
foreign  oppression  !  0,  I  now  see  the  vision  was  true 
which  appeared  to  my  mental  eyes  on  the  feast  of  thy 
holy  annunciation,  immaculate  and  exalted  Mary,  royal 
patroness  of  Erin  of  the  saints  !  Let  me  recall  again 
the  consoling  words  of  this  sacred  prophecy,  whilst  my 
graceful  'Mac  an  'uller'  reposes  on  my  bosom. 

"THE    PROPHECY. 

"Unhappy  land  !  what  countless  woes  await 
The  wretched  victims  of  thy  plundered  state ! 
Thy  fertile  plains  o'errun  by  savage  war, 
While  plague  and  famine  track  her  smoking  car ! 
Thy  castles  razed,  thy  heroes  chained  or  dead; 
Thy  temples  burned,  thy  pastors  hanged  or  fled; 
Thy  sacred  virgins  in  their  cloisters  slain; 
Thy  holy  hermits'  blood,  like  vernal  rain, 
Spilt  by  the  cruel  Saxon's  bloody  sword, 
His  lips  the  while  invoking  name  of  'Lord.' 
Now,  demon-like,  accursed  Anglia's  yell 
Is  raised  aloud,  'To  Connaught,  or  to  hell !  ' 
The  last  chief's  dead,  broke  up  his  trusty  band, 
And  Britain's  rule  established  o'er  the  land  ! 
Established,  is't,  or  flushed  with  victory? 
For  I  must  believe  in  Culmkill's  prophecy  : 
'Six  hundred  days  of  years  she  will  maintain, 
By  God's  permissive  will,  her  cruel  reign ; 


230  THE      PROPHET      OF 

One  hundred  more  her  horrid  sway  shall  linger, 

With  power  no  more  the  sons  of  God  to  injure ; 

At  this  a  man  of  peace  shall  raise  his  head, 

O  Erin,  then  prepare  to  wake  thy  dead ! 

For,  like  the  grain  that  to  the  soil  is  given, 

Ere  the  green  blade  can  shoot  with  joy  to  heav'n, 

Or  like  thy  Christ,  to  whom  thou  dost  appeal, 

Within  the  tomb  his  glories  did  conceal, 

Ere  he  did  only  and  unaided  rise, 

The  first  of  men  to  mount  his  native  skies  ; 

So  shalt  thou  burst  through  famine,  plague,  and  war, 

And  ride  triumphant  on  thy  victor  car ; 

Thy  ancient  name  again  shalt  thou  resume, 

'  Island  of  saints ! '— O  haste  the  happy  doom, 

O  sacred  bird  of  Jove !  come  with  thy  prey, 

Ere  age  shall  rob  me  of  the  light  of  day. 

The  time  is  nigh,  the  darling  child  is  born 

Of  Fingal's  race !     Erin,  thy  brow  adorn, 

Put  on  thy  richest  green,  deck  fair  thy  head, 

Mount  thy  old  throne,  but  guard  against  the  '  red.' 

O  joyous  vision!  now  'tis  near,  'tis  near! 

Fingal's  Eugenie's  son,  the  heir,  the  heir ! 
****** 

My  feeble  eyes  now  horrid  sights  descry, 

That  all  the  powers  of  human  speech  defy. 
****** 

Gaul's  proud  eagles  approach  thy  iron  shore, 

They  land,  they  fight !  'tis  o'er,  'tis  o'er,  'tis  o'er ! 

France,  Spain,  Erin,  three  happy  states  shall  be, 

And  Britain,  then,  shall  cease  to  rule  the  sea !  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  231 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

A    CHILD    OF    NATURE'S    SPORTS    AND    PASTIMES. 

Several  years  of  his  saintly  and  solitary  life  passed  by 
for  our  hero,  without  being  diversified  by  an  incident  of 
sufficient  importance  to  claim  a  notice  in  this  narrative. 
The  same  devotional  exercises  were  discharged  with  the 
most  scrupulous  punctuality  and  fervor.  The  usual  hur- 
ried and  short  hours  devoted  to  repose,  the  protracted 
prayers  and  meditations,  the  accustomed  single  and  fru- 
gal meal,  the  same  self-denial  and  mortification  were  un- 
remittingly kept  up  in  all  their  unrelaxed  austerity  ;  and 
in  addition  to  this  duty  he  had  superadded  the  care  and 
education  of  the  child  whom  God  had  committed  to  his 
care, — and  the  little  "Son  of  the  Eagle/'  as  the  Irish 
idiom  would  style  him,  seemed  to  thrive  as  well  on  his 
hard  fare  and  the  cheerless  accommodations  of  the  vast 
cave,  as  if  he  enjoyed  all  the  luxuries  and  attentions  of  a 
palace.  Sent  hither  by  Providence,  it  was  evident  that 
he  was  watched  and  nourished  by  its  special  care.    And, 


232  THE      PROPHET      OF 

after  a  few  months,  instead  of  being  a  burden,  the  Father 
felt  that  his  playful  simplicity,  so  highly  entertaining, 
and  his  affectionate  caresses  and  good  temper,  with  his 
company,  were  more  than  a  sufficient  compensation  for 
whatever  pains  he  took  to  watch  over  the  health  of  the 
little  fellow's  body,  and  to  form  his  soul  to  virtue.  In  a 
few  years  "  Mac  an  'uller"  became  of  use  to  our  hero,  and 
contributed  not  a  little  to  the  support  of  his  "  Father," 
as  he  called  him,  by  the  skill  winch  he  displayed  in  fish- 
ing and  catching  of  birds  ;  and  on  one  occasion  he 
daringly  robbed  the  eagle's  nest  and  returned  to  the  cave 
with  an  eaglet  from  that  same  eyry,  to  supply  the  wants 
of  which  himself,  when  an  infant,  was  a  destined  prey. 
From  his  expertness  in  the  snaring  of  birds,  the  cave 
was  abundantly  supplied  with  wholesome  animal  food 
and  plenty  of  downy  feathers  to  revive  the  failing  pulse 
and  warm  the  decaying  limbs  of  his  beloved  and  vener- 
able father. 

When  about  four  years  old  he  had  learned  to  serve 
Mass  with  precision  and  grace,  and  he  asked  sensible 
and  searching  questions  about  the  nature,  institution 
and  ceremonies  of  Mass  !  In  a  word,  he  was  of  hardy 
life  and  of  rude  health  ;  and  the  deprivation  endured  by 
his  body  of  what  is  regarded  as  the  necessary  supply  and 
quality  of  food,  only  served  to  develope  and  ripen  his 
soul,  and  bring  his  mental  faculties  into  play  before  their 
time.     As  a  specimen  of  his  daring  and  courage,  we  will 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  233 

mention  an  adventure  of  bis  at  the  age  of  six,  which 
nearly  cost  him  his  life. 

He  was  unaccountably  prepossessed,  from  the  first  and' 
faintest  dawn  of  his  reason,  by  an  unconquerable  hos- 
tility against  the  eagles  and  other  large  birds  which 
made  the  entrance  of  the  cave  their  occasional  retreats 
duriDg  storms  and  before  regaining  their  roosts  on  the 
precipices  overhead.  Probably  this  deep-rooted  hostility 
originated  in  the  fact  that  birds  being  his  only  familiars 
and  almost  playmates,  for  they  often  snatched  the  very 
morsel  from  his  mouth  ;  he  felt  fretted  at  the  advan- 
tages they  had  over  him  in  being  able  to  fly  through  the 
air  and  skim  along  in  safety  over  the  ocean,  even  in  its 
wildest  stormy  rage.  And  he  often  asked  his  father 
"  if  ever  the  time  would  come,  when,  like  the  eagle  or  the 
sea-gull,  himself  could  soar  above  the  highest  verge  of 
the  precipice,  or  glide  over  the  surface  of  the  stormy 
deep  ?  " 

In  his  childish  simplicity  he  fancied  if  he  could  get 
possession  of  the  feathered  paddles  of  the  king  of  birds, 
that  he  too  could  imitate  his  aerial  flights  !  According- 
ly, arming  himself  with  a  rude  pike  which  he  had  formed 
by  affixing  a  sharp-pointed  nail  to  a  reed,  he  climbed 
the  cliff  a  second  time,  and  within  reach  of  the  eyry 
lay  in  ambush  for  the  return  of  its  marauding  lord. 
Both  eagles  soon  returning  with  supplies  to  their  young, 
their  keen  eyes  at  once  and  from  on  high  discovered  the 


234  THE      PROPHET      OF 

invader,  and  with  loud  screams  and  extended  wings  hov- 
ered around  the  nest.     The  youthful  assailant  now  up- 
lifted his  concealed  spear  and  plunged  it  into  the  male 
eagle's  heart  !     The  partner  with  this  dashed  on  to  his 
shoulders  with  her  talons  and  both  wings,  and  the  child 
stunned,  was  wrenched  from  his  foothold  and  forced  over 
the  face  of  the  cliff.     He  would  have  then  been  inevi- 
tably dashed  into  the  ocean  beneath  and  lost,  but  that 
having  seized  the  wounded  eagle  by  the  leg,  the  noble 
bird  had   strength  enough  left  to  keep  himself  from 
drowning,  and  in  gaining  the  mouth  of  the  cave  in  his 
fall  he   thus  preserved  the    life    of   his   youthful  con- 
queror ! 

The  aged  priest  swooned  with  affright  on  having 
witnessed  this  dreadful  contest  between  his  young  pro- 
tege and  the  savage  birds  of  prey.  "  He  is  mine,  father, 
and  the  large  one  too,"  exclaimed  the  youthful  victor  in 
a  transport,  wiping  the  blood  from  his  hands.  The  old 
man  could  make  no  answer  ;  but  having  embraced  him, 
and  assisting  him  to  secure  his  splendid  game,  he  took 
him  before  the  altar  and  caused  him  to  return  thanks  to 
God  for  this  his  second  miraculous  preservation. 

The  young  hero  was  soon  busily  engaged  in  divesting 
his  royal  game  of  its  skin  and  plumage,  the  former  of 
which  he  converted  into  a  jacket,  and  the  latter  was 
partly  suspended  in  the  cave  as  a  trophy  of  victory,  and 
partly  worn  in  the  cap  of  "  Mac  an  'alter"  during  his  life 
afterwards  ! 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  235 

The  adventures  of  the  youth  on  the  ocean  were 
no  less  daring  and  perilous  than  those  encountered  on 
the  lofty  precipices.  He  ventured  to  sail  several  hun- 
dred yards  on  the  surface  of  the  sea  in  calm  weather, 
on  a  raft  constructed  of  a  few  pieces  of  boards  caught 
by  him  from  the  flowing  tide,  and  steered  by  means  of  a 
rude  pole  as  an  oar.  He  became  an  expert  swimmer, 
and  could  dive  like  a  seal  or  porpoise,  to  reach  the  fish,  or 
pieces  of  wreck  which  in  calm  weather  became  visible 
under  the  smooth  waters.  Finally,  he  thoroughly  ex- 
plored the  cavern,  and  succeeded  not  only  in  reaching 
its  terminus  landward,  but  he  effected  an  entrance  to 
the  old  ruin  to  which  it  led  ;  and  to  the  delight  of  the 
hermit  Father,  he  conducted  him  without  much  difficulty 
into  the  mortuary  chapel  which  formed  the  catacomb  or 
basement  of  the  old  abbey.  The  Father  explored  this 
venerable  house  of  worship  with  grave  and  reverend  cu- 
riosity, and,  to  his  surprise,  he  found  it  in  a  state  of 
tolerable  preservation.  This  happy  discovery  opened  an 
additional  source  of  gratitude  to  God  in  the  soul  of  our 
hero,  and  he  resolved,  on  certain  solemn  festivals,  to 
visit  this  holy  shrine,  to  offer  the  holy  victim  of  peace 
within  its  undefiled  and  consecrated  sanctuary.  Our 
hero  examined  every  foot  and  inch  of  this  hidden  dwell- 
ing of  the  Most  High,  with  the  awe  of  a  saint  and  the 
curiosity  of  an  antiquarian.  There  it  stood  in  the  very 
same  position  that  it  did  about  two  centuries  before, 


236  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

when  its  holy  guardians  were  turned  forth  on  the  world, 
or  butchered  like  so  many  sheep  at  the  slaughter-house, 
by  the  rapacious  minions  of  an  apostate  ruler  or  infidel 
government.  There  stood  the  altar,  with  its  tabernacle 
surmounted  by  its  silver  crucifix  unimpaired  and  unin- 
jured by  the  decay  of  time.  And  in  front  stood  the 
wooden  calafalco  or  cenotaph  covered  with  black  drapery 
and  surrounded  by  tall  silver  candlesticks.  The  funereal 
cross  stood  planted  at  the  head  of  the  cenotaph,  and 
upon  lifting  the  pall  there  was  the  corpse  of  a  priest 
invested  and  left  unburied  beneath  its  folds  !  A  large 
quantity  of  sacred  vessels  were  also  found  by  him  con- 
cealed behind  the  altar.  What  reflections  were  not 
these  scenes  calculated  to  excite  !  Here  was  evidently 
a  place  that  the  authors  of  the  ruin  overhead  had  not 
made  out.  The  funeral  obsequies  of  one  of  the  com- 
munity was  being  evidently  prepared  for  when  the 
spoiler  came.  Part  of  the  sacred  utensils  were  hurriedly 
stowed  away  in  this  secret  chapel.  The  monk  who  con- 
veyed them  thither  must  have  perished  of  hunger,  for 
Iris  skeleton  was  there  leaning  against  the  marble  rails 
of  the  sanctuary.  The  whole  community  must  have 
been  put  to  death,  together  with  the  principal  part  of 
the  neighboring  inhabitants,  or  else  this  sacred  shrine 
would  have  been  visited  some  time  or  other  and  its  sa- 
cred treasures  removed  ! 

Alas  !  if  the  bodies  of  the  two  friars  could  be  re- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  237 

called  to  life,  and  interrogated  by  men  as  they  were  by 
God,  what  a  sad  history  could  they  not  give  of  the  aw- 
ful cruelties  and  terrors  of  that  night,  when  the  Saxon 
plunderer  came  like  a  wolf,  to  desolate  their  peaceful 
home,  and  devour  its  defenceless  inmates  !  They  could 
tell  what  merciless  agent  of  Harry,  Elizabeth,  or  Crom- 
well, perpetrated  the  bloody  deed  !  But  all  record  of 
these  acts  on  earth  have  perished,  save  what  our  hero 
can  glean  from  the  melancholy  objects  before  him  ;  and 
this  is  enough  to  know  of  these  savage  deeds,  till  that 
Bay  when  the  earth  and  the  sea  shall  give  up  what  they 
have  so  long  concealed,  and  Justice  shall  be  done  to  the 
humblest  that  sleep  beneath  their  surface.  Father 
O'Donnell,  and  his  beloved  guide  to  this  solemn  and  sa- 
cred spot,  on  bended  knees  repeated  the  "  de  profundis," 
and  resolvino;  to  return  on  the  morrow  to  celebrate  a 
"  requiem  mass "  for  the  souls  of  the  two  uninterred 
friars,  they  retraced  their  steps  to  the  cave. 


238  THE      PROPHET      OF 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE      HAUNTED      ABBEY. 

It  was  on  the  eve  of  "  All-Souls-Day,"  the  second  of 
November,  that  the  discovery  related  in  the  preceding 
chapter  was  made,  and  the  venerable  Father,  after  hav- 
ing finished  the  "  office  "  of  the  festival  of  "  All-Saints," 
proceeded,  "  worthily,  attentively,  and  devoutly,"  to  re- 
cite that  of  the  dead.  It  was  a  beautiful  evening  ! 
The  sun  looked  cheerfully  and  warmly  from  the  western 
sky,  chasing  the  misty  clouds  before  him  in  his  descent, 
lest  they  should  intercept  his  benevolent  rays  to  men. 
The  sea  birds  in  thousands,  perched  on  rocks,  were  airing 
themselves  and  arranging  their  feathers,  and  the  bound- 
less ocean  level  lay  calm  and  motionless  as  the  heaven 
that  smiled  on  it  from  above  ;  while  the  Father  sat, 
stood,  and  knelt,  alternately  during  the  recitation  of  the 
beautiful  and  solemn  "  requiem  "  office  for  the  "  souls 
of  the  faithful  departed."  All  nature  rejoiced  and  was 
glad,  as  on  the  day  when  the  Creator,  drawing  her  forth 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  239 

from  the  abyss  of  chaos  and  nothing,  first  imparted  to 
her  newly-formed  countenance  the  impress  of  his  om- 
nipotent hand,  and  the  benediction  of  his  benevolent 
heart.  But  our  hero's  calm  brow  was  ruffled  by  an  ad- 
ditional wrinkle,  and  a  deep  shade  of  manly  sorrow  was 
settled  on  his  face  !  He  thought  of  the  pitiable  condi- 
tion of  the  dead,  who  were  now  expiating  in  the  regions 
of  purifying  fire,  those  faults  and  sins  which  human 
frailty,  human  respect,  or  some  of  the  other  thousand 
seductions  of  the  world  enticed  them  to  commit,  and 
from  the  consequences  of  which  they  looked  principally 
for  mitigation  and  relief,  to  the  communion  of  saints, 
and  the  suffrages  of  the  Church.  He  lamented  the  gen- 
eral and  increasing  indifference  to  the  sufferings  of  the 
dead  that  prevailed  among  the  living,  and  he  shuddered 
and  wept  bitterly  at  the  remembrances  of  the  many 
frailties  and  imperfections  of  his  own  past  youth. 

This  was  the  first  time  since  coming  into  his  hermit- 
age,  that  he  had  the  happiness  of  being  able  to  use 
black  vestments,  his  only  suits  previously  being  one  of 
green,  and  another  of  white  satin,  which  he  saved  from 
the  wreck  of  the  unlucky  "  Joan  d'Arc."  He  had  now, 
however,  several  sets  of  all  the  colors  found  in  the  chapel, 
and  most  of  them  in  excellent  preservation,  owing  to 
the  absence  of  any  material  dampness  in  the  chapel  it- 
self, by  reason  of  the  nature  of  the  soil.  His  young  as- 
sistant, whom  for  reasons  to  be  mentioned  hereafter,  he 


240  THE      PROPHET      OF 

had  christened  Brefni,  which  we  shall  call  him  in  future, 
was  very  proud  of  his  achievement  in  having  discovered 
the  chapel.  "  Father,"  he  said,  "  you  have  blamed  me 
for  too  much  curiosity,  and  for  asking  singular  questions, 
but  is  it  not  that  curiosity  which  you  censure,  that  ena- 
bled me  to  find  out  the  entrance  into  the  beautiful 
chapel,  to  which  I  conducted  you  this  morning  ?  * 

"  Nay,  my  son,  it  was  rather  the  mysterious  gui- 
dance of  Providence,  that  made  you  instrumental  in 
making  such  a  lucky  discovery.  I  did  not  condemn  ra- 
tional or  useful  inquiry  or  curiosity  ;  it  was  only  an  idle, 
useless,  or  mischievous  one,  that  I  blamed  ;  such  as 
your  wishing  to  know  why  God  had  placed  you  here,  or 
why  he  has  not  given  man  wings,  like  the  eagle,  to  fly 
over  the  ocean,  or  mount  the  clouds  of  heaven  with." 

"  How  gently  that  man  slept,  whom  we  saw  under 
the  black  covering  to-day  in  the  chapel,  and  how  much 
like  you  when  sacrificing,  he  looked  with  his  long  white 
hair  and  calm  face  !  How  came  he  to  lie  there  ?  Is 
he  only  asleep,  or  is  he  dead,  like  that  great  eagle,  which 
I  once  killed  ?  " 

"  His  body  is  dead,  my  son,  but  his  soul  lives  in  a 
better  world  than  this,  a  beautiful  country  beyond  the 
clouds  and  the  sky,  where  God  is  king.  I  shall  soon  be 
like  him  dead,  pale,  and  motionless,  and  then  you  will 
have  to  dig  a  grave  and  place  me  under  the  earth,  as 
we  will  him  on  to-morrow." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  241 

tl  No,  father,  you  won't  surely  die  and  leave  me  here 
alone  among  the  birds.  I  shall  pray  to  God  that  you 
may  not  die." 

"  Ah  !  my  son,  you  ought  not  to  do  so,  for  by  dy- 
ing I  will  begin  to  live  with  God,  in  his  glorious  country 
above  the  stars.  You,  too,  will  have  to  die  and  lie  un- 
der the  earth  for  years  and  years,  till  you  rise  again  at 
the  last  day,  to  be  judged  with  all  men." 

"  But  who  will  remain  with  me  here  in  this  lonely 
cave  when  you  die  ?  " 

"  Oh  leave  that  to  God,  who  will  probably  take  you 
away  from  this  to  a  land  beyond  that  ocean — aye,  far,  far 
beyond  its  border,  where  you  will  be  among  millions  of 
men,  some  younger,  some  older,  and  some  of  your  own 
age  and  size.  There,  also,  if  God  wills,  you  will  meet 
friends,  nearer  and  dearer  to  you  than  I,  who  am  only 
your  guardian  and  teacher,  by  God's  appointment." 

"  Oh,  I  may  meet  hundreds,  thousands,  millions, 
but  never  among  them  all  one  whom  I  shall  love  as  I  do 
you,  '  Father.'  I  love  God  first,  who  made  the  sun,  the 
stars,  the  heavens,  the  sea,  the  rocks,  the  birds,  and  the 
fishes,  and  who  can  light  up  all  the  sky  and  the  ocean, 
with  the  blaze  of  his  loud  thunder  ;  but  next  to  him 
you  arc  dearest  to  me." 

"  That  may  be  for  a  time,  child  ;  but  when  you  will 
see  your  real  father,  you  cannot  refuse  him  your  first 
love  next  to  God  and  his  blessed  mother." 

11 


242  THE     PROPHET      OF 

"  But  when  will  this  be  ?  I  desire  to  see  ray  real 
father,  to  tell  if  I  can  love  him,  and  to  find  if  he  can 
give  me  a  larger  and  better  spear  than  this  one,  to 
pierce  those  eagles  which  went  so  near  killing  me,  and 
that  have  now  placed  their  nest  far  beyond  my  reach." 

"  Yea,  this  you  can  have,  and  many  other  useful 
things  ;  but  you  must  have  patience,  and  wait  till  God 
is  pleased  to  send  you  the  means  of  departure  from  this 
cavern  !  Kneel  down,  till  I  bless  thee,  my  son,  ere  thou 
retire  to  sleep,  and  rising  early  on  to-morrow,  we  will 
set  out  for  the  beautiful  chapel,  to  say  Mass  for  all  the 
dead." 

Early  next  morning,  long  before  the  dawn  of  day, 
the  mortuary  chapel  of  the  old  abbey  re-echoed  for  the 
first  time  during  two  centuries,  the  solemn  chant  of  a 
priest  intoning  the  "  requiem  "  Mass  ! 

It  was  a  "  Missa  Cantata,"  accompanied  with  incense, 
six  lights,  and  all  the  solemnity  that  under  the  circum- 
stances was  possible  ;  and  though  there  was  neither  choir 
nor  organ,  the  sweet  and  powerful  chant  of  the  officia- 
ting priest  was  responded  to  and  returned  back  to  his 
ear  in  countless  charming  echoes,  from  all  parts  of  this 
enchanting  oratory.  So  delighted  was  the  Father  with 
the  convenience  of  the  place  in  comparison  with  his  own 
rude  sanctuary  in  the  cave,  and  so  overpowered  with  ec- 
static devotion,  that  though  the  "requiem  mass"  is 
comparatively  a  short  one,  and  though  he  had  ascended 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  243 

the  altar  about  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  it  was  about 
nine  o'clock  before  he  finished.*  After  the  Mass,  he 
performed  funeral  service  over  the  remains  of  the  two 
monks,  and  having  dug  two  graves  of  moderate  depth, 
he  consigned  them  to  their  mother  earth  ! 

Meantime  a  heavy  tramping  of  feet  and  loud  voices, 
mournful  lamentations,  and  fervent  prayers,  are  heard 
overhead  in  the  old  Abbey  ruin.  After  having  listened 
attentively  for  a  while,  "  the  Father  "  could  glean  from 
the  conversation  of  persons  just  over  him,  that  two 
shepherds,  who  were  watching  the  flocks  of  a  wealthy 
proprietor  named  O'Loughlin,  having  taken  shelter 
under  an  old  arch  of  the  Abbey,  heard  the  voice  of  the 
priest  distinctly,  as  he  chanted  the  mass,  and  after 
several  fits  of  swooning,  and  half  crazed  with  fear,  suc- 
ceeded in  alarming  the  whole  country  by  the  recital  of 
what  they  had  heard.  One  of  the  men  was  a  Protes- 
tant, and  the  other  a  Catholic,  and  upon  aprjearing  be- 
fore priest,  minister  and  magistrate,  they  testified  con- 
sistently and  conclusively  to  the  strange  miracle  which 
they  related  !  There  was  a  hurried  investigation  of  the 
affair  before  a  full  bench  of  magistrates  and  justices  of 
the  peace,  who  regarded  it  as  their  duty  to  "  take  cog- 
nizance of  the  strange  occurrence,"  and  make  their  report 
to  the  castle  of  Dublin  !      Some  laughed  at  the  narration 

*St.  Philip  Neri  often  spent  eight  hours  through  devotion,  say- 
ing Mass.     So  did  many  of  the  saints. 


244  THE      PROPHET      OF 

of  the  two  honest  men  ;  others  were  for  having  them  in- 
dicted for  perjury,  for  swearing  to  what,  they  said,  was 
impossible,  that  dead  men  should  sing  high  Mass  ;  while 
others,  and  they  were  the  wisest  in  their  own  estimation, 
were  of  opinion  that  it  was  only '  the  whistling  of  the 
winds  through  the  broken  arches  of  the  ruin,  that  caused 
the  voice-like  sounds  which  they  heard  in  half  sleep. 
There  was  one  incident,  however,  which  went  to  show 
the  candor  at  least  of  the  narrators.  The  one  who  was 
a  Protestant,  named  Benson,  an  Orangeman  and  a  pen- 
sioner, there  and  then  declared  himself  a  Catholic,  and 
called  on  Father  O'Shaughnessy,  who  sat  on  the  bench, 
to  receive  his  recantation  !  "  What  !  Benson,  are  you 
crazy,  man  ?  "  cried  the  Rev.  Tomkins  Brew,  J.  P.,  to  his 
apostatizing  parishioner,  whom  he  could  not  well  spare, 
as  Benson  and  his  family,  and  the  sexton  constituted 
his  whole  congregation  !  "  You  must  be  either  crazy 
or  drunk,  and  to  think  of  such  a  step  as  turning  papist 
and  probably  losing  your  pension,  Benson  ! "  he  repeated 

"  I  am  neither  crazy  nor  drunk,  your  Reverence  ; 
and  as  for  the  pension,  I  earned  it  well  in  his  Majesty's 
service,  who,  I  hope,  will  not  deprive  'me  of  it  ;  and  if 
he  do  itself,  sir,  I  can  afford  to  live  without  it,  but  can't 
afford  to  lose  my  poor  soul." 

"  Benson,  my  man,"  replied  the  Reverend  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  "  you  are  very  silly  to  renounce  your 
creed  for  this  imagination.     And  supposing  you  did  hear 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  245 

the  chant  of  the  Mass,  which  you  did  not,  is  it  not  most 
probable  that  it  was  the  devil  that  caused  this  phantom 
to  deceive  you  ?  I  would  not  be  astonished  at  all,  if  it 
was  the  devil,  who  was  saying  his  Mass  so  early  in  that 
popish  ruin  !  " 

"  Well,  your  Honor,  or  Eeverence — for  I  don't  know 
which  title  is  your  proper  one — all  I  have  to  say  is,  that 
if  it  was  the  devil  I  heard,  he  must  have  a  very  fine 
voice  for  sacred  song,  and  I  have  very  great  doubts  if  he 
was  up  so  early  on  '  All-Souls-Day '  praying  for  the 
dead  !  I  believe  rather,  that,  like  his  faithful  followers 
on  earth,  he  takes  a  good  nap  in  the  morning,  and  I 
always  heard  it  is  cursing  he  was  given  to,  like  all  well- 
bred  gentlemen,  instead  of  praying.  So  good-bye  to 
your  Eeverence,  and  I  wish  you  luck  with  the  remainder 
of  your  congregation,  as  I  and  my  family  will,  from  this 
day  forward,  try  to  go  to  heaven  in  the  way  that  shall 
be  pointed  out  to  us  by  Father  O'Shaughnessy."  Hav- 
ing delivered  himself  of  this  speech,  the  ex-Orangeman 
left  the  court  and  joined  the  crowds  of  people  who 
moved  towards  the  Abbey  of  "Glanduff"  to  pray  for 
the  dead. 

There  is  a  popular  opinion  among  the  peasantry  of 
Ireland,  that  any  priest  who  dies  without  having  said  all 
his  Masses,  or  discharged  his  intentions  in  full,  can  never 
be  admitted  to  the  society  of  the  blessed.  And  it  is  be- 
lieved that  the  ghosts  or  shades  of  such  negligent  ser- 


246  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

vants  wander  around  the  precincts  of  churches  or  cha- 
pels, clothed  in  their  ministerial  robes,  to  see  if,  hap- 
pily, any  church  sexton  or  server  of  Mass  would  he  found 

courageous  enough  to  assist  them  to  offer  sacrifice,  and 

...  .8 

thus  satisfy  their  obligations  ;  and  that  foiling  in  getting 

an  opportunity  of  thus  discharging  their  debts,  and  no 
other  priest  undertaking  to  satisfy  them,  they  will  have 
to  remain  shut  out  from  heaven  till  "  the  last  farthing  " 
is  paid  !  Nobody  can  deny  but  this  popular  opinion, 
whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  many  instances  of 
"  Spirits"  adduced  by  its  adherents  to  confirm  it,  has 
itself  originated  in  a  most  correct  view  of  justice  and 
morality — the  principle  of  restitution.  The  excitement 
on  this  occasion  among  the  peasantry  was  traceable  to 
this  very  general  popular  idea ;  nor  was  it  to  be  won- 
dered at,  that  they  assembled  in  great  crowds  to  the 
"  city  of  the  dead,"  where  their  forefathers,  for  centuries 
before  them,  were  buried,  after  having  heard  the  extra- 
ordinary relation  of  two  honest  men  under  solemn  oath. 
"  It's  all  past  and  gone  now,"  said  Father  O'Shaugh- 
nessy  to  his  curate,  Father  Darby  Tuohy,  "  I  neither 
deny  the  solemn  testimony  of  Benson  and  O'Halleran, 
nor  do  I  give  credence  to  the  popular  stories  of  the 
peasantry  about  "rising  priests  ;"  but  from  this  latest 
edition  of  ghost  stories,  this  much  good  has"  happened ; 
Benson  has  saved  his  soul  and  that  of  his  whole  house, 
whom  I  have  baptized  to-day,  and  the  poor  people  have 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  247 

offered  hundreds  of  communions  and  pious  prayers  for 
the  souls  of  the  faithful  departed.  Good  has  come  of 
it,  and  that's  all  I  care  about  its  truth  or  falsehood. 
1  God  adds  to  the  Church  daily  those  who  will  be 
saved.' " 


248  THE      PROPHET      OJP 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE    DISCLOSURE. 

Our  young  acquaintance,  Brefni,  or  "  Mac  an  'uller,"  had 
just  reached  the  fifteenth  anniversary  of  his  rescue  from 
his  rapacious  kidnapper,  and  so  far,  his  life  was  a  con- 
tented and  happy  one.  His  mind,  as  well  as  his  body, 
seemed  to  improve  as  if  by  miracle,  and  he  took  not 
more  delight  in  climbing  the  frowning  precipice  to  reach 
the  roosting  places  of  the  winged  tribes  on  which  he 
levied  his  principal  support,  or  taking  his  glorious 
plunge-bath  into  the  bracing  waters  of  the  ocean,  to  in- 
vigorate his  body,  than  he  did  in  learning  the  Christian 
doctrine,  in  serving  around  the  altar,  or  in  mastering 
the  trite  but  pleasing  truths  of  natural  science.  He  had 
with  remarkable  facility  mastered  the  elementary  parts 
of  the  liberal  sciences  from  the  vocal  instructions  of  his 
venerable  tutor,  as  he  had  learned  to  serve  God  from  his 
example  and  kind  precepts. 

About  this  time,  however,  a  visible  change  appeared 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  249 

in  his  manner.  He  was  contented  and  happy,  to  be 
sure,  for  he  had  learned  to  know  and  love  his  Creator  ; 
but  the  former  enthusiasm  of  youth  appeared  to  have 
fled,  he  became  habitually  silent,  the  bloom  of  ruddy 
health  seemed  to  steal  gradually  from  his  cheek,  and  he 
seemed  one  marked  out  for  his  eternal  home  in  heaven, 
rather  than  destined  for  a  lono-  life  on  earth.  The  ragrinsr 
of  the  reckless  storm,  the  flights  and  aerial  gambols  of 
birds,  the  beauty  and  brilliancy  of  the  stars,  together 
■with  all  the  other  grand  phenomena  of  Nature  with 
which  his  eye  was  familiar,  and  of  which  he  was  so 
enthusiastic  an  admirer,  began  to  lose  all  their  wonted 
charms  for  him.  Whether  or  not  he  took  to  heart  this 
his  long  and  tedious  separation  from  his  parents,  whom 
he  understood  to  be  living  and  exalted  in  life  ;  or,  that 
the  narrow  and  monotonous  sphere  of  life  in  which  he 
moved  was  unsuited  to  his  lofty  spirit  ;  or  that  his  soul, 
enamored  of  the  ravishing  joys  of  heaven,  so  vividly 
depicted  before  his  fervid  imagination  by  the  sweet 
music  of  his  teacher's  eloquence,  languished  for  their 
actual  enjoyments,  cannot  now  be  determined,  but 
Brefni's  health  was  becoming  delicate,  and  evidently 
tending  to  decay  ! 

His  Reverend  guardian  perceiving  the  change,  be- 
gan to  be  alarmed,  and  though  he  did  not  doubt  but 
the  will  of  Providence  would  be  finally  accomplished, 
regarding  this  object  of  its  singular  protection,  yet,  he 


250  THE      PROPHET      OF 

did  not  dare  to  run  the  risk  of  tempting  that  good  Pro- 
vidence, and  he  therefore  resolved  to  send  his  protege 
away  on  the  duties  of  his  high  vocation,  as  soon  as  an 
opportunity  offered.  Calling  him  to  his  knee  one  morn- 
ing, after  returning  from  Mass  in  the  crypt,  with  a  view 
of  preparing  the  young  man  for  his  inevitable  departure, 
he  thus  addressed  him  : — 

"  My  dearest  child,  the  fifteenth  anniversary  of  you.: 
coming  into  this  cave  has  just  passed,  and  now  that 
you  have  learned  all  that  I  could  teach  you,  now  that 
you  have  faithfully  served  God  during  so  many  years  in 
this  secluded  retreat,  it  is  time  to  let  you  know  who  you 
are,  of  what  race  descended,  and  .to  give  you  an  idea  of 
what  God's  providence  seems  to  have  designed  in  your 
regard.  About  seventeen  years  ago,  I  joined  your 
parents  in  marriage  in  my  church,,  in  Cloughmore,  in 
the  county  of  Tipperary,  wher3  I  was  parish  priest. 
Your  father  was  then  a  noble  young  gentleman  of  worth 
and  property,  and  a  descendant  of  a  ducal  branch  of  the 
royal  house  of  Stuart,  but  had  to  change  his  name  to 
that  of  Kilpatrick,  the  title  of  the  hereditary  estate,  on 
account  of  the  participation,  by  his  ancestors,  in  all  the 
rebellions  that  had  for  their  object  the  restoration  of  the 
House  of  Stuart,  but  especially  that  of  1745." 

"  Ah  !  Father,  you  don't  deceive  me  with  some  ro- 
mantic tale  !  "  exclaimed  the  trembling  listener. 

"  No,  my  son  ;  I  tell  you  what  I  know  to  be  true. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  251 

And  when  I  related  to  you  so  minutely  the  history  of 
the  unfortunate  House  of  Stuart,  it  was  with  a  view  to 
enlist  your  heart  in  the  cause  of  this  eclipsed,  but  not 
extinct,  royal  race.  And  I  observed  the  blood  rush  in 
a  tide  to  your  cheek,  and  the  fire  to  your  eye,  at  the  re- 
cital of  the  injuries  of  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots." 

"  But  Father,  how  can  I  know  that  I  am  thus  de- 
scended ?  Was  it  not  that  eagle  which  I  killed  when  a 
child,  and  whose  wing  hangs  there,  you  assured  me, 
that  brought  me  hither  ?  Who  can  tell  who  I  am  but 
God  ?  " 

"  I  have  the  proof  of  your  descent  and  identity,  as 
the  Scottish  Chief's  son — but  let  me  proceed.  Your 
mother  is  descended  of  the  noble  House  of  Ossory, 
princes  of  Leinster,  and  one  of  the  purest  that  remains 
in  the  land  !  The  friendship  between  the  two  families 
originated  in  this  wise  :  After  the  defeat  of  the  last 
hopes  of  the  '  Pretender,'  as  the  lawful  heir  of  the 
British  throne  was  called,  your  grandfather  was  obliged 
to  take  refuge  in  Ireland,  and  there  under  the  protection 
of  the  heir  of  the  House  of  Ossory,  he  let  the  storm 
pass  by  in  security.  It  was  during  the  interval  of  the 
quiet  that  succeeded  that  last  attempt  of  the  PretendBr, 
and  his  returning  to  Scotland,  that  your  grandfather 
and  his  friend  pledged  their  honors,  that  the  next  male 
and  female  child  of  either  house  should  be  joined  in 
marriage  at  the  proper  age.    Soon  after,  your  father  and 


252  THE     PROPHET      OF 

mother  were  born,  and  in  due  time  were  married  by  me 
according  to  the  rites  of   the  Catholic    Church,   your 
father  having  read  his  recantation  and  been  received 
into  the  Church  by  me  a  few  days  previously.     After 
this  I  was  immediately  arrested,  and  tried  under  a  law, 
passed  in  the  reign  of  William  and  Mary,  the  usurpers 
of  the  throne  of  the  Stuarts,  which  made  it  death  in  a 
priest  to  join  a  Protestant  and  Catholic  together  in  mar- 
riage,   or  to   receive   a   Protestant    into    the  Catholic 
Church  ;    and_having  been  found  guilty  by  a  jury  of 
perjured  men,  I  was  condemned  to  death  !     My  dear 
brother,  however,  hearing  of  my  fate  in  France,  where 
he  was  captain  of  cavalry,  managed,  by  great  address, 
to  come  to  me  in  prison,  and  by  exchanging  places  with 
me,  gave  me  the  chance  of  escaping  the  hands  of  my  perse- 
cutors.   Poor  fellow,  I  hope  he  succeeded  in  escaping  their 
hands  afterwards  himself,  and  getting  back  to  his  adopted 
country  ;  you  know  the  rest :   how  the  vessel  which  was 
to  convey  me  to  France,  was  wrecked  on  this  wild  coast, 
and  I  was  the  sole  survivor  of  the  number  on  board  !     I 
was  in  this  cave  just  a  year  and  a  day,  when  the  great  eagle, 
which  you  afterwards  slew,  presented  you  to  me  unhurt 
and  uninjured  !     And  what  proves  to  me  that  you  are 
the  son  of  my  dear  friends,  beyond  a  doubt,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  the  similarity  of  countenance  and  resemblance 
of  feature,  is,  that  sacred  relic  you  have  ever  carried 
around  your  neck,  and  which  probably  saved  you  from 


THE      ilUINED      ABBEY.  253 

the    many    frightful    accidents    you    so    miraculously 
escaped. 

"On  the  day  of  your  mother's  marriage,  I  presented 
her  with  that  relic,  which  I  often  told  you  contained  a 
piece  of  the  holy  cross  of  our  Lord,  and  she  promised  it 
should  never  leave  her  person,  unless  to  be  transferred  to 
that  of  the  first  male  heir  that  God  should  send  her. 
You  are  that  heir,  my  son  ;  and  you  are  destined  to  be- 
come the  '  head  of  a  house  that  will  give  a  deliverer 
and  a  ruler  to  Ireland  ! '  Don't  fight  against  the  coun- 
sels of  Heaven,  but  prepare  and  make  ready  t#o  enter  on 
the  mission  that  invites  you.  Clothe  yourself  in  this 
uniform  of  my  lost  friend,  the  Captain  of  the  '  Joan 
d'Arc,'  and  keep  a  sharp  look-out,  for  the  vessel  is  on 
her  way,  and  will  soon  be  here,  that  is  to  restore  you  to 
your  friends  and  the  predestined  field  of  your  labors. 
May  God  pour  down  his  choicest  benedictions  on  your 
innocent  head,  and  endow  your  soul  with  a  wisdom 
above  that  of  the  world  into  which  you  are  about  to 
enter.     Amen." 


254  THE      PROPHET      OF 


CHAPTEE    XXIV. 

THE      DEPARTURE      OF     BREFNI. 

When  Brefni  understood  from  his  venerable  guardian 
and  father  that  it  was  the  will  of  Heaven  that  he  should 
leave,  he  consented,  after  a  hard  struggle  with  his  pri- 
vate feelings  ;  and  every  day,  after  the  discharge  of  his 
devoirs  to  his  Maker,  and  his  duty  to  his  "father,"  from 
the  conical  summit  of  a  projecting  rock,  his  sharp  eye 
scanned  the  wide  horizon  over  the  ocean,  in  anxious 
search  for  the  expected  vessel.  For  a  week,  from  ear- 
liest dawn  to  the  hour  when  the  last  rays  of  light  died 
away  in  the  sun-receiving  west,  this  observation  was 
continued,  the  short  intermissions  above  stated  only  ex- 
cepted. Another  week  of  like  vigilance  passed  by,  and 
not  a  "sail"  appeared  within  the  extensive  view.  Some- 
times a  cloud  or  a  mist,  rising  from  the  bosom  of  the 
waters,  would  present  the  appearance  of  a  square-rigged  ■ 
vessel  driven  before  the  wind,  and  the  bosom  of  the 
young  man  would  throb  with  thrilling  sensations  ;  but, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  255 

on  placing  the  telescope  to  his  eye,  and  bringing  it  to 
bear  on  the  deceptive  mass,  it  showed  itself  to  be  what 
it  really  was — a  frail  child  of  the  ocean  and  sun,  and 
destined  only  to  an  existence  of  a  few  short  hours  !  A 
third  week  of  more  unceasing  vigilance  followed,  with 
no  better  result,  but  that  the  illusions  of  cloudy  vapors 
became  more  frequent  and  more  annoying.  At  length, 
after  three  weeks  and  three  days'  watching,  on  the 
seventeenth  of  March,  a  real  ship,  not  made  of  clouds, 
appeared  to  the  north-west  ;  and  about  noon  her  slow 
motion  brought  her  almost  in  a  line  due  west  of  where 
our  young  coast  sentinel  was  stationed.  Panting  with 
excitement,  he  descended  to  communicate  the  fact  to 
the  "  father,"  who,  on  advancing  to  the  mouth  of  the 
cave,  and  placing  the  telescope  to  his  eye,  balanced  on 
the  head  of  the  youth,  immediately  descried  her  as  a 
Spanish  galleon,  and  apparently  on  a  homeward  voyage 
from  some  North  American  port  or  northern  cruise. 

"  That  is  your  destined  argo,  my  son,"  he  cried  ;  "a 
royal  Spanish  vessel,  on  board  of  which  you  can  escape  to 
the  continent,  and  then  afterwards  make  your  way  to 
France,  to  meet  or  hear  of  your  friends.  Haste  and 
raise  your  signal,  that  may  draw  the  eye  of  the  noble 
Spaniard  to  your  flag  of  distress.  The  gallant  ship  is 
evidently  becalmed,  and  they  are  engaged  in  airing  her 


canvas." 


With  the  agility  of  an  alpine  chamois,  the  active 


256  THE      PROPHET      OF 

youth  precipitated  himself  down  the  cliff,  and  with  a 
white  flag  on  a  pole  in  one  hand,  and  steering  his  raft 
with  the  other,  he  was  soon  a  mile  out  from  land.*  His 
gestures  with  the  flag  were  immediately  observed  by 
those  on  the  frigate,  and  he  soon  after  perceived  a  boat, 
manned  by  a  dozen  marines  and  sailors,  making  for  him. 
The  Spanish  sailors  and  men-of-war  were  accustomed  to 
such  offices,  and  passing  by  the  Irish  coasts,  they  had 
ever  a  look-out  lor  some  rebel,  refugee,  or  rapparee,  who 
sought  their  humanity  and  protection  from  the  cruel 
injustice  of  English  laws.  Our  young  friend  was  greet- 
ed by  the  hearty  "  vivas  !  "  and  "  bravissimos  !  "  of  the 
marines  and  sailors,  who  admired  his  boldness  in  trust- 
ing his  life  to  the  frail  raft,  and  the  address  with  which 
he  sprung  into  the  boat.  They  were  in  a  few  minutes 
alongside  the  frigate,  where,  after  the  reading  of  a  note 
from  the  Eev.  Senan  O'Donnell  by  the  commander,  Don 
Bernardo  Castanedo,  of  which  the  sergeant  of  the  party 
in  the  boat  was  bearer,  young  Brefni  was  taken  on  board, 
and  treated  with  every  mark  of  attention  by  his  Excel- 
lency. While  on  board  he  happily  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  an  Irish  refugee  named  O'Donohoe,  who  not  only 
imparted  to  him  the  important  news  of  the  day,  which 
was  the  breaking  out  of  the  French  revolution,  but  who 
had  actually  met  Captain  Charles  O'Donnell,  brother  to 

*  The  extreme  point  of  the  Moher  promontory  is  culled  "  Hag's 
Head." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  257 

our  hero  and  his  rescuer,  at  the  court  of  his  most  Cath- 
olic Majesty  !  This  was  news,  assuredly,  that  could  not 
but  be  highly  interesting  to  his  venerable  brother,  the 
"  father  "  and  guardian  of  his  youth,  and  therefore  he 
hastened  back  to  the  cave  to  communicate  it  to  him. 
The  command  of  the  boat,  on  her  return  for  the  effects 
of  Brefni,  was  given  to  O'Donohoe,  at  the  request  of  the 
former,  who  procured  the  consent  of  the  courteous  com- 
mander, and,  accompanied  by  four  stout  sailors  only,  in 
consequence  of  the  assurance  given  by  Brefni  of  the 
impossibility  of  any  hostile  attack  on  that  wild  coast, 
the  two  gentlemen,  seated  together  at  the  helm,  kept 
up  a  very  interesting  conversation,  till  they  arrived  at 
the  cave.  O'Donohoe  and  Brefni  only  landed,  and  were 
met  at  the  verge  of  the  cliff' by  our  hero,  who,  thinking 
the  former  a  native  Spaniard,  saluted  him  in  that 
tongue,  which  salute  was  returned  by  the  officer  in  good 
Kerry  Irish.  The  father  gave  an  exclamation  of  delight 
on  finding  a  countryman  instead  of  a  stranger,  the  more 
so,  as  he  could  now  be  sure  of  a  friend  for  his  dear  young 
charge.  While  this  conversation  was  carried  on  between 
the  venerable  servant  of  God  and  the  young  officer, 
Brefni  was  preparing  his  few  effects,  not  without  audible 
sobs  and  heartfelt  grief,  on  account  of  the  separation 
about  to  take  place  between  himself  and  his  dearest  and 
only  friend  on  earth.  "  Alas  !  alas  !  father,"  he  cried, 
kneeling  before  the  old  gentleman's  feet  and  embracing 


258  THE      PROPHET      OF 

them,  "  why  do  you  compel  me  to  leave  you  ?  Has  it 
not  been  ever  my  greatest  pleasure  to  obey  you  and 
serve  you  at  the  altar  ?  You  know  I  have  no  ambition, 
nor  do  I  feel  that  I  have  abilities  for  these  important 
duties  to  which  you  say  I  am  called." 

"  Silence,  my  beloved  son,"  answered  the  venerable 
Father,  who  was  himself  in  tears,  caused  by  the  concise 
but  frightful  description  of  the  French  revolution,  and 
the  indignities  offered  to  the  royal  family,  which  he 
heard  from  O'Donohoe.  \Viping  away  the  tears  from 
his  aged  eyes,  and  embracing  his  beloved  Brefni  on  both 
cheeks,  and  putting  a  few  letters  into  his  hands,  he  said, 
"  Go,  thou  son  of  the  eagle,  cradled  in  adversity, 
nursed  in  the  lap  of  rigid  virtue,  nourished  with  the 
pure  milk  of  true  faith,  exercised  in  the  pleasant  garden 
of  Eeligion,  trained  in  the  discipline  of  self-denial  and 
mortification,  educated  in  the  grand  university  of  nature, 
armed  with  the  weapons  of  innocence  and  truth,  clothed 
in  the  splendid  garments  of  charity, — go,  adorn  the 
courts  of  kings,  and  may  the  slender  but  pure  drop  of 
royal  blood  that  flows  in  your  veins  increase  and  swell 
like  the  widow's  cruet  of  oil,  till  the  abundant  stream, 
having  replenished  the  noblest  royal  household  vessels 
of  Europe,  the  destitute  widow  of  our  native  land  will 
be  saved  and  enriched  by  the  superabundant  supply  !  " 

The  boat  shoved  off  from  the  rocks,  the  light  and 
graceful  oars  rapidly  dipt  and  rose  on  the  surface  of  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  259 

smooth  ocean,  and  her  crew  were  soon  on  board  the 
"Isabella."  A  north-west  wind  having  sprung  up,  a 
salute  of  twelve  guns  was  fired  in  honor  of  the  Hermit 
priest,  to  whom,  soon  after,  the  Isabella  appeared  no 
larger  than  the  eagle  with  extended  wings,  on  the 
horizon  ! 


260  THE      PROPHET     OF 


CHAPTEE    XXV. 

STRANGE     AND     MYSTERIOUS    INCIDENTS. 

Our  hero  was  again  alone  in  his  cave.  His  early  friend, 
the  supporter  of  his  feeble  footsteps,  the  comfort  of  his 
declining  days,  was  gone  !  Aye,  and  gone  for  ever,  and 
at  the  very  time  when  his  services  were  most  needed, 
yet  commanded  and  compelled  to  go  by  him  who  most 
needed  them.  How  mysterious  are  the  ways  of  Pro- 
vidence, and  full  of  mercy  in  his  dealings  with  men  ! 
In  the  beginning,  and  during  the  youth  of  our  virtuous 
life,  so  to  speak,  he  entices  us  along  the  arduous  road, 
and  supports  our  tottering  steps  by  the  props  of  sensible 
or  human  consolation  ;  but  wken  we  have  become  hardy 
travellers,  inured  to  the  toilsome  journey,  and  have 
overcome  the  most  arduous  passages  of  the  way,  he  then 
withdraws  the  support  that  his  mercy  gave,  and  leaves 
us  to  finish  the  task  by  ourselves,  unaided  by  human  or 
earthly  aids  !  The  Father  felt  the  absence  of  his  affec- 
tionate companion  and  faithful  disciple,  but  he  became, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  261 

on  this  account,  the  more  united  to  his  God,  in  being  so 
completely  separated  from  all  human  consolation.  And 
his  natural  affection  for  his  adopted  and  promising  son 
became  subordinate,  and  was  completely  absorbed  in  his 
love  for  his  Maker  and  Redeemer.  He  offered  the  Holy 
Sacrifice  daily,  and  alone,  and  the  consolation  and  spi- 
ritual nourishment  which  he  derived  from  this  Heavenly 
Banquet,  contributed  not  a  little  to  the  support  and 
strength  of  his  feeble  body.  For  this  "  bread  of  angels," 
though  intended  to  sustain  and  nourish  the  soul,  yet  in- 
directly, in  so  far  as  the  state  of  the  soul  influences  the 
body,  it  has  been  known  frequently  to  contribute  much 
to  the  health  and  nourishment  of  the  latter,  too  ;  the 
" Mens  Sana"  in  this  case,  producing  the  "  Corpore 
Sano"  as  St.  Paul  assures  us  that  the  contrary,  or  un- 
worthy receiving,  caused  frequent  sickness,  and  death  in 
the  Apostolic  ages  ! 

"Wholly  engrossed,  and  rapt  up  in  his  medita- 
tions and  heavenly  communings,  he  almost  entirely 
neglected  his  body  ;  and  though  the  industry  of 
Brefni  had  left  him  a  goodly  supply  of  dried  fish  and 
other  preserved  provisions,  he  used  them  no  oftener 
than  three  times  a  week,  and  scarcely  tasted  them  when 
he  did  use  them.  Weighed  down  with  old  age,  and  its 
increasing  infirmities,  like  St.  Paul,  he  anxiously  desired 
dissolution  and  the  enjoyment  of  his  God,  whom  he  had 
so  long  and  so  well   served.      His  appearance  at  this 


262  THE      PROPHET      OF 

period  of  his  life  looked  sanctified  and  venerable,  beyond 
any  thing  ever  seen  by  modern  eyes.  His  hair  resembling 
the  fair  fleece  of  a  spotless  lamb,  fell  gracefully  and  far 
back  on  his  shoulders.  His  beard,  which  was  of  equal 
whiteness,  reached  almost  to  his  knees.  His  face  and 
hands  were  so  purely  clear  as  to  appear  translucent,  and 
seemed  as  if  some  waxen  composition,  instead  of  flesh 
and  blood.  He  might  be  taken  for  a  statue  of  some 
venerable  saint,  by  an  ordinary  spectator  of  his  godly 
figure  before  the  altar,  if  the  continual  stream  of  tears, 
that  descended  from  his  noble  eyes,  did  not  betray  him 
a  living  being  of  human  mould  !  Indeed,  leading  a  life 
of  the  most  austere  sanctity,  his  figure  and  countenance 
were  such  as  we  might  imagine  of  Elias,  Samuel,  or 
Paul  the  Hermit,  rather  than  of  a  saint  of  modern 
times.  He  spent  most  of  his  time  in  the  crypt,  in 
either  offering  the  Holy  Sacrifice,  or  adoring  the  real  pre- 
sence, and  although  no  silver  lamp  shed  its  calm  light 
on  the  tabernacle,  the  ardent  flame  of  his  heart's  devo- 
tion was  seldom  absent  from  before  it.  For  as  he  had 
by  continual  practice  of  mortification  and  abstinence, 
weaned  his  body  almost  from  the  necessity  of  food,  so  he 
nearly  subdued  its  inclination  to  sleep. 

Strange  law  of  our  nature  this  is,  and  illustrative  of 
that  apparently  contradictory  declaration  of  our  Lord, 
Matt,  xvi.,  "  He  that  will  save  his  life  shall  lose  it." 
There  is  no  surer  or  more  expeditious  way  of  destroying 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  263 

the  life,  than  by  tending  and  nourishing  well  the  body  ; 
whereas  the  only  way  to  gain  even  partial  success  in  that 
immortality  which  most  men  aspire  to,  even  in  this  life, 
is  to  mortify  and  do  violence  to  its  passions  and  the 
cravings  of  its  appetites  !  The  Pyramids  of  Egypt 
have  not  saved  the  anointed  and  embalmed  bodies  of 
her  kings  from  ruin  and  decay  ;  but  the  saints,  in  trying 
to  annihilate  their  bodies,  and  to  subdue  their  disorders, 
have  only  succeeded  in  preserving  them  from  corruption 
and  decay  !  This  is  one  of  the  mysterious  but  indubi- 
table truths  of  our  nature,  which  few  persons  reflect  on, 
and  fewer  still  make  the  rule  of  their  lives. 

Some  time  after  the  departure  of  Brefni,  and  during 
his  frequent  and  protracted  vigils  in  the  subterranean 
chapel,  the  devotions  of  our  venerable  hero  were  interrupt- 
ed by  most  melancholy  groans  and  plaints  of  a  wounded 
man  above  him,  in  the  ruins  of  the  "  haunted  Abbey  !  " 
The  sufferings  of  the  poor  mortal,  whoever  he  was,  ex- 
cited the  tenderest  sympathies  of  the  old  man's  noble 
heart,  and  he  hesitated  for  some  time,  as  to  whether  he 
should  not  try  to  reach  him,  by  endeavoring  to  effect  an 
entrance  or  ascent  to  the  ruin,  where  the  poor  sufferer 
lay.  The  invalid  being  undoubtedly  extended  on  the 
ground  above  him,  he  could  hear  his  heavy  breathing 
and  every  groan.  He  was  glad  to  hear  him  pray  in  the 
height  of  his  acute  pain,  "  Lord  have  mercy  on  me,  a 
sinner  !  "     "  Good   Saviour   come   to   my   assistance  ! " 


264  THE      PKOPHET      OF 

"  Mary,  Mother  of  Jesus,  pray  for  me,  a  poor  suffering 
sinner  !  "  while  his  companion  would  answer,  "  There  is 
no  fear  of  you."  "  You  will  be  well  in  a  few  days." 
"  Many  a  red  coat  will  fall  by  you  yet."  "  It's  only  your 
toes  that  are  off."  "  You  will  be  well  in  a  few  days." 
"  Apply  this  ointment,  which  will  cure  you  in  a  few 
days."  "  Take  that  purse,  you  may  soon  want  its  poor 
contents.  Have  courage,  God  be  with  you  my  faithful 
friend  and  preserver.  I  must  be  off  to  the  coast  of 
Kerry  :  once  more,  farewell  !  "  While  these  words, 
uttered  in  an  agitated,  rapid  tone  of  voice,  satisfied  our 
hero  that  his  unseen  neighbor  was  in  no  danger  of  death, 
they  were  at  the  same  time  the  occasion  to  him  of  the 
most  strange  conjectures  !  He  thought  he  heard  a 
voice  to  which  he  was  a  stranger  for  upwards  of  twenty 
years,  sounding  in  his  ears.  Could  it  be  that  of  his 
brother,  Charles,  the  Captain  of  French  cavalry  ?  But 
how  could  it  be  ?  Did  not  the  commander  of  the 
"  Isabella,"  Don  Bernardo,  assure  Brefni  that  he  had 
taken  up  his  residence  in  Madrid  since  the  death  of 
Louis  XVI.  ?  He  did,  assuredly  ;  imagination,  there- 
fore, must  have  been  the  parent  of  his  strange  fancy, 
and  he  rejected  its  further  entertainment  as  idle,  if  not 
sinful. 

The  wounded  man,  in  the  mean  time,  as  far  as  could 
be  conjectured,  from  his  active  movements  overhead,  and 
from  the  infrequency  of  groans,  seemed  to  be  convales- 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  265 

cing  rapidly,  if  he  was  not  completely  cured,  but  he  did 
not  quit  his  tenement  in  the  ruin.  On  the  contrary,  he 
kept  close  in  his  retreat  for  several  months,  and  proba- 
\  bly  had  to  devote  the  day  to  sleep  and  rest,  and  the 
'  night  to  exercise  and  the  providing  for  the  means  of  t 
support,  as  it  was  during  the  favoring  darkness  of  the 
latter  that  he  gave  any  signs  of  activity  or  life. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that,  whoever  he  was,  he 
more  than  once  caught  the  sound  of  our  hermit's  voice 
in  prayer,  as  well  as  his  own  was  heard  by  the  latter  ; 
for  often  the  exclamation  burst  from  the  lodger  above  : 
"  My  Grod  !  what's  this  I  hear  ?  Are  all  the  fabulous 
stories  I  heard  about  this  ruin  true  ?  Do  the  dead  un- 
der ground  move  and  speak  ?  Shade  of  my  butch- 
ered wife,  if  you  be  within  hearing,  speak  and  come  ! " 
Again  the  poor  man  would  reproach  himself  for  his 
credulous  fancy,  saying,  "  Ah  !  what  a  fool  I  am.  Sure 
it  must  be  only  dreaming  I  was  when  I  imagined  that  I 
hear  the  voices  of  the  dead,  who  lie  under  me  here  in 
millions  !  And  even  if  the  dead  have  spoken,  they  are 
as  good  company  as  the  living  any  day,  and  far  more 
harmless.  I  need  fear  nothing  worse  than  myself.  Let 
my  soul  rest  secure  ! " 

Our  hero  would  have  at  once  removed  his  neighbor's 
fears  and  doubts  by  addressing  him,  but  did  not  wish  to 
disturb  the  poor  fellow,  who,  he  concluded,  was  some 
honest  outlawed  Catholic  escaped  from  his  persecutors, 

12 


266  THE     PROPHET     OF 

who  chose  this  "  haunted  ruin "  as  the  safest  retreat 
from  the  hands  of  his  merciless  persecutors.  He  there- 
fore determined  to  let  him  alone,  and  by  addressing  his 
prayers  while  at  the  altar  in  an  under  tone,  guarded 
against  any  further  alarm  of  his  neighbor's  fears  or  in- 
terruption of  his  repose  from  this  cause  ! 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  267 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

THE      TREASURE-SEEKERS. 

The  ruined  Abbey  of  "Glanduff"  bore  always  "a  bad 
name/'  that  is,  was  looked  upon  as  haunted  since -the 
days  of  "  Laveragh  Lynchagh  ; "  but,  during  the  last 
twenty  years,  since  the  excitement  created  by  the  solemn 
depositions  of  Benson  and  his  fellow  shepherd,  the  pre- 
cincts of  this  venerable  relic  of  Christian  architecture 
were  shunned  as  if  all  the  "  fairies "  of  the  enchanted 
land  of  elves,  or  all  the  ghosts  of  Elysium,  were  domi- 
ciled within  her  walls.  The  only  occasions  on  which  it 
happened  ever  to  be  visited  was  when  funerals  came 
there  for  interment,  and  these  were  usually  attended 
by  three  or  four  thousand  persons,  a  host  sufficiently 
formidable  to  awe  any  number  of  fairies  into  silence 
and  good  propriety. 

The  conjectures  and  disputations  among  the  peasan- 
try regarding  the  causes  of  these  frequent  preternatural 
sounds  and  apparitions  at  the  abbey,  were  various  and 


268  THE      PROPHET      OF 

contradictory.  Some  accounted  for  these  phenomena 
one  way,  and  some  in  another  and  a  different  way  ;  but 
the  chief  impression  was,  that  there  was  an  immense 
treasure  hidden  there,  and  that  all  the  strange  pranks 
that  were  heard  and  seen  there  were  so  many  cunning 
tactics  of  the  ghost  in  whose  custody  the  treasure  was, 
in  order  to  guard  against  the  possibility  of  discovery. 
And  this  opinion  was  confirmed  by  the  dreams  and 
visions  of  "  Seers,"  "  Phileas,"  and  other  persons  inti- 
mate with  the  "  good  people,"  who  were  so  confident  in 
their  information  as  to  tell  the  very  spot,  and  the  depth 
under  ground  in  which  it  lay  !  "  The  gould"  was  there 
for  certain,  for  ould  Tom  Cauny,  the  senachie,  had 
dreamed  of  it  as  often  as  "  he  had  fingers  and  toes  on 
him,"  and  not  unfrequently  on  three  successive  nights. 
Judy  Muggavin,  the  crazy  or  "  simple  woman,"  as  she 
was  called,  often  was  heard  to  speak  of  the  "  crock  of 
gould,"  in  the  fits,  "the  fallin'  sickness,"  to  which  she  was 
subject.  And,  lastly,  "Ania  Annisa" — Anglice,  Han- 
nah Hennessy,  the  midwife,  and  "  Bride  Koe,"  or  Eed 
Bridget,  the  witch,  were  once  or  twice  seen  on  Sunday 
mornings,  rooting  hard  with  spades  over  the  very  spot 
where  the  "crock"  was  buried,  but,  being  too  feeble, 
they  could  never,  of  course,  reach  it.  There  was  a 
host  of  such  authority  as  the  foregoing  worthies,  to  prove 
the  fact  of  the*  "crock  of  gould"  being  in  the  Abbey, 
and  abundance  of  such  talk  as  the  above  :  but  "  Bride 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  269 

Roe's"  description  of  the  location  and  other  appendants 
of  the  "crock"  was  the  most  circumstantial  and  authen- 
tic. According  to  her  account — and  she  received  her 
information  from  the  "good  people"  themselves, — the 
"  crock "  was  huried  deep  by  the  western  wall  of  the 
ruin,  and  was  secured  by  three  covers.  The  first  was 
stone,  the  second  lead,  and  the  third  iron  !  There 
was  only  one  "  sprid,"  or  ghost,  in  care  of  it ;  but  she 
could  easily  dispose  of  him  by  ordering  him  to  do  some- 
thing impossible  for  him  to  perform,  such  as  "  to  make 
a  rope  of  the  sand  of  the  Red  Sea,"  or  ordering  him  off 
to  procure  "  two  hundred  kegs  of  sixpenny  silver  coin," 
or  "two  hundred  barrels  of  Grecian  liquor,"  things  that 
were  known  to  be  utterly  out  of  the  power  of  the  fairies 
to  procure.* 

Yet,  with  all  these  powerful  spells  at  her  command, 
and  all  her  flattering  promises,  "Bride  Roe"  could  never 
get  a  man  bold  enough  to  engage  in  her  enterprise,  at 
the  time  and  in  the  manner  she  required.     There  were 

*  What  special  virtues  the  above-mentioned  articles,  "  Red  Sea 
sand,'  the  sixpenny  coin,  and  the  Grecian  liquor,"  have,  we  cannot 
say,  but,  we  assure  the  reader,  that  it  was  the  general  legendary 
opinion  in  the  south  of  Ireland,  that  the  "fairies'"  charms  and 
spells  were  at  once  dispelled  and  dissipated  upon  being  asked  by 
their  victim,  or  his  nearest  kin,  for  the  above  singular  supplies. 
Gold  and  silver  of  other  denominations  they  had  in  abundance, 
and  would  liberally  give,  but  sixpennies  and  Grecian  usquebaugh 
they  had  not. 


270  THE      PROPHET      OF 

many  persons,  it  must  be  allowed,  who  volunteered  to 
try  the  thing  by  day ;  but  to  such  she  answered,  that 
"  the  treasure  could  never  be  found  by  day  ;  and  if  it 
should,  there  is  nothing  '  the  sprid  >  would  like  better  ;< 
for,  in  that  case,  he  could  easily  impose  on  the  vision  of 
the  finders  by  substituting  any  other  substance  in  place 
of  the  treasure  ;  and  it  often  happened  that  those  who 
had,  in  former  times,  discovered  vast  treasures  of  this 
sort,  and  went  to  bed  rejoicing,  next  morning,  when 
they  got  up,  were  mortified  and  amazed  at  finding  but 
a  few  pieces  of  slate-stone,  or  a  quantity  of  horse-dung, 
in  the  ■  crock/  instead  of  the  gould  ! "  What  was  to 
be  done  ?  Was  there  no  brave  man  in  the  county  who 
would  try  the  proposal  of  "  Ked  Biddy,"  and  earn  a 
glorious  fame,  and  grow  rich  as  "Demur"  in  addition  ? 
During  wedding  and  fair-drinking  parties,  there  were 
hundreds  who  swore  they  would  go  in  search  of  the  gold 
if  all  the  "  sperits  "  at  this  side  of  the  pit  were  guard- 
ing ;  but  when  they  got  sober,  and  got  over  the  reckless 
courage  inspired  by  maddening  drink,  these  boasters 
over  their  cups,  on  reflection,  thought  it  was  not  "  lucky 
to  meddle  with  the  good  people,"  as  the  fairies  were 
called  by  the  timid  and  those  who  feared  their  power. 
Such  was  the  want  of  daring  enterprise  among  the 
peasantry  of  these  parts,  that  "  Red  Biddy  "  spent  the 
best  part  of  her  life  in  this  useless  agitation  ;  and  she 
was  "dead  and  gone"  ere  a  single  "  bould  man"  pre- 
sented himself  to  espouse  her  project. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  271 

In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  however,  there  rose  in 
that  neighborhood  two  bold  spirits,  named  "  Tighe 
OTorpy  "  and  "  Considine  Brack," — Anglice,  Spotted 
Considine, — who  were  great  hunters,  and  not  only  set 
ghost,  goblins  and  fairies  at  defiance,  but  what  was  far 
more  serious,  the  authority  of  the  parish  priest,  Father 
Twomy,  himself !  These  two  worthies  lived  in  the  ha- 
bitual violation  of  the  laws  of  the  land  ;  and  as  for  the 
fulfilment  of  the  laws  of  the  church  or  precepts  of  reli- 
gion, "  they  put  it  on  the  long  finger."  They  were  fre- 
quenters of  every  night-dance  and  wake  assemblage,  and 
at  all  other  disorderly  gatherings  of  the  lawless  or  vicious, 
on  which  account  they  brought  on  their  own  hardened 
heads  the  censures  of  the  church  and  denunciations  of 
the  priest  ;  but  this,  and  the  consequent  disrepute  into 
which  they  fell,  only  served  to  make  them  more  reckless 
and  daring.  It  being  whispered'  at  dances  and  other 
nightly  meetings  at  which  the  pair  unexpectedly  ap- 
peared, that  they  had  sold  themselves  to  the  devil  for  a 
consideration,  "  these,"  thought  one  "  Paddy  Hassett," 
who  had  long  since  fixed  his  mind  on  the  means  of  get- 
ting at  the  "  crock  of  gould,"  "would  be  the  very  fellows 
to  get  at  it,  if  any  men  living  could  get  at  it."  These 
three  worthies  met  to  discuss  the  matter,  and  they  soon 
agreed  on  the  proposition  of  "  Hassett,"  and  accordingly 
prepared  to  put  it  into  execution.  O'Torpy,  who  was  a 
first-rate  crack  shot,  provided  himself  with  a  silver  bul- 


272  THE      PROPHET      OF 

let,  formed  of  a  hammered  shilling,  with  which  he 
threatened  to  lay  the  ghost,  if  he  appeared  ;  while  the 
others,  equipped  with  pick-axe,  crowbar,  spade  and  lan- 
tern, set  out  on  their  treasure-finding  journey.  While 
avarice  was  the  principal  inducement  to  "  Hassett "  to 
go  on  this  gold-hunting  excursion,  Torpy  and  Considine 
declared  they  did  not  care  whether  or  not  they  found 
the  treasure,  if  they  could  do  some  damage  to  the  gen- 
tleman, O'Loughlin,  on  whose  estate  the  ruin  stood — 
that  they  would  be  satisfied  their  labors  would  not  be 
lost.  Ere  they  had  proceeded  far  on  their  road  to  the  ruin, 
'Hassett,  who  was  rather  suspicious  of  his  associates,  pro- 
posed that  they  should  swear  to  be  faithful  to  one  an- 
other in  case  of  attack  from  any  quarter ;  and  that  in 
case  of  success  in  finding  the  treasure,  it  should  be  fairly 
divided  between  them.  This  was  agreed  to,  after  the 
most  vehement  adjurations. 

In  approaching  the  Abbey,  the  ruined  gables  and 
arches  of  which  stood  out  before  them  like  so  many 
spectres  against  the  bright  starry  sky,  although  afraid 
and  in  awe,  they  affected  great  courage,  and  spoke 
loudly  and  swore  bold  oaths,  in  order,  as  it  would  ap- 
pear, to  let  any  ghosts  that  might  be  within  hearing  know 
what  sort  of  fellows  they  had  now  to  deal  with,  and  who 
would  not  be  so  easily  scared  as  were  Benson  and  O'Hal- 
loran,  the  shepherds,  on  a  former  occasion.  They  com- 
menced their  work  at  about  one  o'clock,  or  midnight, 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  273 

and  had  not  labored  much,  when,  sure  enough,  they 
came  to  a  stone  or  flag,  such  as  "  Red  Biddy  "  had  often 
described. 

u  By  all  that's  bad  !  here  is  the  very  stone  which 
'  Eed  Biddy '  often  told  me  of,"  exclaimed  Hassett,  as 
he  bent  over  the  limestone  slab  to  which  his  companion 
applied  his  crowbar.  "  We'll  soon  be  rich  men,  my 
friends!" 

"  I  had  better  have  my  piece  ready  to  let  fly  at  the 
ghost,  should  he  appear,"  exclaimed  Torpy.  "  How 
gladly  I  will  put  an  ounce  of  lead,  or  rather  a  bit  of  sil- 
ver, in  his  brain,  if  he  should  show  his  nose,  and  espe- 
cially if  he  be  that  scoundrel  called  Shamus  a  Cauba 
(James  of  the  old  hat),  father  of  the  present  proprietor, 
who,  they  say,  is  in  charge  of  his  ill-gotten  gould  here. 
Come,  old  Caubeen,"  he  added,  in  mockery,  "  show  an 
inch  of  your  nose  to  Tighe  0' Torpy,  if  you  have  the 
spirit  of  a  rabbit  widin  your  chicken  heart,  you  '  Keo- 
laim.'" 

"  Ah  !  silence,  Mr.  0' Torpy,"  said  Hassett,  who 
thought  they  were  in  a  sufficiently  dangerous  position, 
without  having  it  aggravated  by  this  unnecessary  provo- 
cation of  the  spirits  of  the  dead.  "  There  is  no  use  in 
being  too  bold,  and  I  think  this  is  no  time  to  crack  a 
joke,"  he  added,  as  he  leaned  on  his  crowbar  with  all  his 
might. 

A  few  moments'  silence  ensued,  and  in  the  interval 
12* 


274  THE      PROPHET      OF 

the  stone  gave  way,  with  several  square  feet  of  the  foot- 
ing around,  and  suddenly  two  of  the  party,  Hassett  and 
Considine,  were  precipitated  into  the  cavern  beneath. 
The  latter,  however,  recovered  himself  by  holding  on  to 
the  spade-tree  or  handle,  which  he  held  firmly  grasped 
by  both  hands,  and  which  crossed  the  aperture,  and  he 
scampered  away  after  O'Torpy,  whom  he  vainly  called 
to  assist  him  ;  while  unhappy  Hassett,  after  a  fall  of 
some  twenty  feet,  fell  flat  on  the  stone  floor  of  the  mor- 
tuary chapel,  over  which  they  were  at  work.  Their 
cries  and  alarms  brought  one  to  the  spot  who,  lying 
concealed  himself,  had  an  opportunity  of  both  seeing 
and  hearing  the  gold-seekers.  He  advanced  slowly  and 
cautiously,  not  for  fear  of  ghosts,  however  ;  and  when 
he  came  to  the  aperture,  he  was  astonished  to  find  the 
space  within  illuminated.  At  first  he  thought  the  light 
proceeded  from  the  unextinguished  lamp  of  the  gold- 
seekers  ;  but  on  a  nearer  approach,  he  looked  into  the 
space  beneath,  and  there,  to  his  utter  amazement,  saw 
a  venerable  old  man  with  a  wax  candle  in  one  hand,  and 
the  other  elevated  as  if  in  the  act  of  blessing  the  mis- 
erable man  who  had  just  fallen  in.  His  hair  stood  erect 
on  his  head,  his  flesh  shrunk  on  his  limbs,  and  his  first 
movement  was  to  fly  ;  but  when  his  ear  caught  the 
solemn  words  of  the  venerable  old  man,  crying,  "  Come 
back,  friend  !  fear  not  !  I  am  no  ghost,  but  a  man  like 
yourself/'  the  man  returned,  and,  viewing  his  accoster 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  275 

closer,  he  exclaimed,  "  My  God,  Father  O'Donnell !  is 
it  you  or  your  ghost  I  see  ?  " 

"  It  is  myself,  my  friend,  and  no  ghost.  Who  may 
you  be  who  recognizes  me  ?  " 

"  0  Father  !  do  you  recollect  your  old  parishioner, 
Terry  O'Mara,  called  the  '  enchanted  warrior  ?  ' " 

"  The  Lord  be  praised  !  Is  it  you,  O'Mara,  who 
have  been  so  long  my  neighbor,  without  my  having  the 
courtesy  to  speak  to  you  ?  See,  my  friend,  if  you  can 
aid  me  to  lift  this  poor  victim  of  his  avarice  out  of  this. 
I  am  afraid  he  is  dead." 

"  Wait,  sir,  till  I  bring  a  rope  which  I  have  near  by, 
and  by  that,  means  I  will  lift  him  into  the  fresh  air." 

He  was  accordingly  lifted  up  ;  and,  after  having 
taken  a  few  "  slugs  "  out  of  a  convenient  bottle  of  whis- 
key which  Terry  had  by  him,  Hassett  soon  revived,  and 
being  conducted  towards  the  highway  by  O'Mara,  he 
soon  made  himself  scarce. 

It  may  be  presumed  that  from  that  day  to  the  day 
of  his  death,  Paddy  Hassett  never  went  to  dig  for 
treasure,  nor  did  he  ever  tell,  if  he  knew,  how  he  re- 
covered from  the  fairy  land  into  which  his  companions 
had  reported  that  he  had  fallen,  and  thought  that  he 
was  lost.  They,  the  villains  !  it  is  to  be  feared,  died, 
impenitent,  as  they  had  lived,  and  I  believe  were  lost  on 
the  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  New  York  ;  but  poor  Has- 
sett repented  of  his  sins,  and  led  an  exemplary  life  from 


276  THE     PROPHET      OF 

this  date,  the  avarice  having  been  rubbed  out  of  him  by 
this  adventure,  and  believing  to  the  hour  of  his  death 
that  it  was  to  an  angel,  whom  he  took  Father  O'Donnell 
to  be,  that  he  owed  his  rescue  from  the  pit  into  which 
he  had  fallen. 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  277 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 

THE  RENEWAL  OF  OLD  ACQUAINTANCE. 

After  escorting  the  disappointed  gold-seeker  outside 
the  precincts  of  the  "  enchanted  "  Abbey  lands,  and  warn- 
ing him  not  to  return  at  his  peril,  our  old  acquaintance 
Terry  O'Mara  returned  in  haste,  to  offer  his  services  to 
the  venerable  Father  in  his  underground  chapel.  When 
he  had  returned  and  descended  by  means  of  a  rope,  he 
found  the  hermit  Father  already  vested  for  Mass,  it  being 
Christmas  night  ;  and  there,  almost  doubting  his  own 
eyes,  and  the  reality  of  the  objects  around  him,  yet 
recognizing  the  voice  and  figure  of  his  venerable  patron, 
he  served  his  three  successive  Masses  on  that  blessed 
night.  And  0,  what  Masses  !  and  with  what  ecstaey 
and  unction  offered  !  Terry  saw,  or  fancied  that  he 
saw  the  man  of  God  lifted  off  the  ground  into  the  air 
when  he  held  the  Redeemer's  body  in  his  hands.  A 
beam  of  supernatural  glory  irradiated  his  face,  and  his 
voice,  his  gestures,  and  other  ceremonious  conduct  at 


278  THE      PROPHET      OF 

the  altar,  were  such  as  if  he  saw  and  conversed  with 
God  present  face  to  face,  rather  than  under  the  mystic 
veils  of  the  sacrament.  Truly  O'Mara  began  to  doubt 
with  himself  whether  this  was  not  heaven,  and  he  who 
officiated,  one  of  those  four  and  twenty  ancients  whom 
St.  John  represents  as  falling  down  before  Him  who  sit- 
teth  on  the  throne,  so  fervent  and  lively  were  the  actions 
and  the  devotion  of  the  man  of  God  ! 

After  nearly  six  hours'  service,  which  passed  as  if 
they  were  only  so  many  minutes,  overwhelmed  with  the 
most  extraordinary  feelings  of  awe,  surprise,  grief,  hu- 
mility, contrition  and  love  ;  O'Mara  at  length,  on  the 
Father  having  finished  his  last  Mass,  cast  himself  at  his 
feet,  embracing  them,  and  bedewing  them  and  the  earth 
with  his  tears,  said,  "  O,  Father,  how  often  have  I  not 
heard  your  beloved  voice  while  concealed  above  this  very 
altar  almost  ;  and,  fool  as  I  was,  I  persuaded  myself 
that  I  only  dreamed,  or  that  my  imagination  deceived 
me  !  I  could  easily,  however,  have  perceived  that  some 
spell  bound  me  to  this  place  during  the  last  fifteen 
months  ;  for,  notwithstanding  my  oft  repeated  resolu- 
tions,.! found  myself  bound  down  almost  to  my  hiding- 
place  !  Now  I  am  ready  to  die,  as  I  have  seen  alive 
again  my  father,  my  pastor,  and  my  best  friend  !  0 
give  me  your  best  blessing,  holy  Father,  for  I  am  in  sad 
want  of  its  grace- giving  aid.  0  that  I  could  now  die, 
while  under  the  sacred  shadow  of  my  pastor !  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  279 

u  Stand  up,  my  son/'  answered  the  venerable  hermit, 
who  himself  had  to  struggle  against  the  rebellion  of  hu- 
man feelings.  "  We  should  not  grieve,  but  rejoice,  on 
this  morning,  when  our  Lord  is  again  newly  born  ! "  '  Fil- 
ius  natus  est  nobis,  et  ptier  datus  est  nobis.'  '  A  son  is 
born  for  us,  and  a  child  is  given  to  us.'  Come,  dry  up 
these  earthly  streams,  and  let  us  rejoice  who  sing  '  Gloria 
in  Excelsis ! '  '  Glory  to  God  on  high,  and  peace  to  men 
of  good  will  on  earth.'  Follow  me  to  my  parochial  house, 
where  I  will  give  you  for  breakfast  a  fat  hare,  which 
Providence  sent  me  yesterday,  and  some  good  dried  fish 
from  my  reserved  supplies.  Let  us  proceed  in  peace ;  it 
is  only  about  two  miles  distant,  and  this  is  the  avenue 
that  leads  to  our  presbytery." 

Having  entered  the  long  passage,  they  secured  its 
entrance  by  pushing  the  tomblike  slab  which  served  as 
its  door  forward  to  its  place,  and  bolting  it  firmly.  They 
also  took  the  precaution  of  carrying  off  the  candlesticks, 
vestments,  and  altar  furniture,  lest,  after  last  night's 
occurrence,  any  of  the  treasure-seekers  would  return,  or 
other  intruders  visit  the  now  disclosed  chapel.  Having 
reached  the  part  of  the  cave  which  he  called  his  house, 
the. Father  placed  before  his  guest,  on  a  table  of  native 
marble,  carved  out  by  his  own  hands,  all  the  luxuries 
that  the  place  afforded,  consisting  of  the  flesh  of  a  hare, 
or  rather  a  part  of  one,  which  the  eagle  supplied  him 
with,  some  dried  fish,  a  few  grains  of  boiled  wheat,  some 


280  THE      PROPHET      OF 

salad  of  the  "  shamrock  "  sort,  and  a  stone  vessel  full  of 
pure  water,  caught  in  drops  from  the  overhanging  rocks. 
Such  was  the  frugal  Christmas  meal  to  which  the  saint 
and  his  guest  sat  down,  and  with  their  sentiments  of  self- 
denial  and  mortification,  combined  with  thanksgiving 
and  gratitude  to  God  on  one  side,  and  awe  and  admira- 
tion and  unexpected  gladness  on  the  other,  this  simple 
fare  tasted  to  them  better  than  the  feasts  of  royal 
tables. 

"  Now  Terry,  my  son,  be  cheerful  and  happy,  and 
commence  to  tell  me  something  about  the  affairs  in  the 
great  Babylon,  the  world  I  mean.  What  has  become 
of  Charles,  with  Thomas  and  his  family  ?  What  is  the 
state  of  the  country  ?  How  did  you  get  mutilated  in 
that  form,  so  as  to  have  lost  part  of  both  feet,  and  what 
has  brought  you  to  this  wild  region,  all  the  way  from 
vour  snug  home  in  Knockmeldown  ?  " 

"  Ah  !  Father,  you  impose  a  melancholy  task  on 
me,  and  one  which  would  require  almost  an  age, 
adequately  to  discharge.  I  must  obey  you,  however, 
though  I  do  not  know  where  to  begin,  as  I  will  not  know 
when  or  where  to  stop  after  I  begin.  To  begin  with 
your  brother  Charles,  I  can  only  inform  you  that  he  was 
at  that  abbey  above,  with  me,  a  few  months  ago,  and 
then  departed  for  Spain — " 

"  What,  Terry  !  was  Charles  so  late  as  that  in 
this  country,  and  was  it  he  who  encouraged  you  on  the 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  281 

night  of  your  great  pain,  '  telling  you,  you  would  be  soon 
well,  and  to  use  the  ointment  ?  '  " 

"  The  very  person,  your  Reverence.  He  was  the  only 
person  I  spoke  to  within  a  year,  or  better,  yourself  alone 
excepted." 

"  That  was  my  impression  at  the  time,  too,  Terry, 
for  I  heard  every  word  he  spoke  to  you  ;  but  I  persuaded 
myself  it  was  an  impossibility,  from  having  heard  from  a 
captain  of  a  Spanish  frigate,  that  he  was  in  Spain." 

"  And  so  he  was,  and  I  hope  is  now,  with  your 
brother  Thomas  and  family,  who  are  in  high  esteem  at 
the  capital  of  his  Most  Catholic  Majesty  ;  but  Charles, 
inspired  by  his  love  of  country,  came  back  to  Ireland  on 
the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  and  fought  nobly  in 
that  defeated  but  noble  struggle  for  independence." 

"  What,  Terry  !  has  my  beloved  native  land  been 
torn  by  the  horrors  of  an  unsuccessful  rebellion  ?  " 

"  Alas  !  yes,  Father,  and  it  was  extinguished  in  the 
blood  of  two  hundred  thousand^ of  the  people." 

"  Oh  my  God  !  save  thy  sacred  island,  and  hasten 
her  final  emancipation  !    Go  on,  Terry,  go  on." 

"  The  rising  of  the  patriots  was  premature,  and  not 
well  directed,  on  account  of  the  unexpected  arrest  of  the 
principal  leaders,  and  commenced  in  the  North  of  Ire- 
land, where  the  patriot  force  was  strongest,  but  soon  was 
defeated  by  the  bigotry  and  faithlessness  of  the  low  Pro- 
testant rabble,  which  there  formed  the  chief  contingent 


282  THE      PROPHET      OF 

in  the  patriot  army,  but  passing  along  through  Leinster, 
the  noble  spirit  of  resistance  to  tyranny  grew  stronger 
and  stronger,  till,  reaching  Wexford,  it  grew  into  all  but 
an  irresistible  blaze.  Several  splendid  victories  were 
gained  by  the  patriots  at  Wexford,  Gorey,  Enniscorthy, 
Newross,  Oulard,  Newtownbarry  ;  and  these  were  princi- 
pally owing  to  the  courage  infused  into  the  troops  of  the 
insurgent  forces,  by  the  burning  words  and  noble  example 
of  your  friends,  Kev.  John  Murphy  and  Rev.  Mr.  Roche, 
and  several  other  priests  who  joined  our  ranks  !  Finally, 
after  a  short,  but  heroic  struggle,  the  patriot  army,  after 
a  defeat  at  Vinegar  Hill,  were  obliged  to  disband,  being 
badly  provided  with  military  stores,  and  almost  sur- 
rounded by  an  army  of  70,000  veteran  troops  of  Eng- 
land. Your  humble  servant  fought  in  most  of  the  fore- 
mentioned  glorious  actions,  side  by  side  with  the  Cap- 
tain your  brother,  till  having  both  feet  shot  off  from  the 
middle  of  the  instep,  on  the  retreat  on  Vinegar  Hill,  I 
would  have  been  butchered  by  the  English,  had  he  not 
nobly  taken  me  up  on  his  horse,  and  both  of  us  seeing 
the  cause  of  the  people  sunk  in  despair,  had  to  fly,  and 
seek  the  retreat  which  the  '  haunted  Abbey '  afforded 
us—" 

"  0  my  country,  how  thou  hast  bled,  and  what  suffer- 
ing is  in  store  for  thee  yet  ! — But  go  on,  Terry  ;  proceed 
with  your  tale  of  terrible  news.  Does  the  country 
Buffer  still  ?  " 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  283 

"  Yes  !  and  will  for  years.  In  all  directions  the  hos- 
tile fire  consumes  the  substance  of  the  conquered  people. 
Corn-fields  are  devastated.  Houses  and  stored  grain 
consumed  with  the  bodies  of  their  owners.  Herds  and 
flocks  are  wantonly  destroyed,  aye,  and  the  very  houses 
of  God  even,  are  fired  and  made  desolate  !  Whole  dis- 
tricts are  without  a  house  or  home,  and  aged  widows 
wander  maniacs  on  the  shelterless  common,  after  having 
witnessed  the  butchery  of  their  husbands  and  sons,  and 
the  worse  than  death,  the  dishonoring  of  their  daughters, 
by  the  demon  soldiery  of  Britain.  Oh  Father,  my 
brain  shall  burst  at  the  thought  of  what  I  have  witnessed, 
and  what  I  know  is  just  now  taking  place — " 

"  Patience,  my  brother,  patience.  Thou  hast  not 
seen  the  worst  yet.  After  the  sword  shall  come  the 
plague  and  the  famine. — But  perhaps  it  has  passed  by. 
Has  any  great  peacemaker  yet  appeared  among  the  peo- 
ple, whose  eloquence  shall  persuade  them  to  allow  the 
polished  pike-blade  to  rust,  and  cause  the  gleaming 
sword  to  be  converted  into  a  reaping-hook  with  which  to 
cut  down  the  corn-stalks,  and  gather  the  yellow  har- 
vest ?  " 

"  No,  he  has  not  yet  appeared,  except  he  ripen  out  of 
a  young  man  of  pure  Milesian  blood,  who  has  on  the 
public  market-place  declared  that  all  the  liberties  ivhich 
Erin  ever  enjoyed,  and  loill  ever  demand,  are  not  to  be 
purchased  by  a  single  drop  of  human  blood." 


284  THE      PROPHET      OF 


iC 


That  may  be  the  man  who  is  to  come  and  pass 
away  ere  the  darkest  hour  of  Erin's  night  shall  arrive  ; 
but  soon  after  the  chained  eagle  shall  soar  again  beyond 
the  clouds  and  gaze  on  the  sun  of  liberty,  which  in  its 
brightness  shall  dazzle  and  blind  many  nations,  but  will 
cast  the  soft  rays  of  its  cheering  light  on  Erin.  But 
before  this  happy  day  shall  dawn,  fell  famine's  skele- 
ton form  shall  traverse  the  four  provinces  of  my  poor 
country  !  A  million  graves  shall  open  their  devouring 
mouths  in  a  day,  and  the  glutted  earth,  surfeited  with 
human  carcasses,  shall  refuse  further  interments  !  And 
famished  dogs  shall  feed  upon  human  flesh  !  Fain 
would  my  mind  shut  up  its  avenues  of  thought  against 
such  appalling  and  sickening  sights,  but  the  unerring 
light  of  prophecy  renders  their  contemplation  inevitable 
to  my  afflicted  soul  !  Amid  the  confusion  of  these 
troublous  times  another  strange  sight  presents  itself  to 
view.  I  behold  the  green  flag  of  my  country  assailed 
by  a  band  of  impious  desperadoes,  who  would  persuade 
the  people  to  despise  and  forget  the  cross-emblazoned 
sunburst  of  old  times,  and  substitute  in  its  stead  a  crim- 
son banner  of  blood  !  0  Erin,  if  thou  fling  not  this 
godless  band  of  degenerate  sons  off  thy  spotless  bosom, 
and  thus  guard  against  their  stings,  more  poisonous  than 
those  of  the  reptiles  expelled  by  thy  chief  apostle,  mis- 
erable and  sudden  will  be  thy  fall  into  the  tomb  of  eter- 
nal dishonor  and  everlasting  infamy.      Separate  from 


THE      EUINED      ABBEY.  285 

thee,  by  the  bounds  of  a  mighty  ocean,  this  upstart 
bloodthirsty  crew,  who  would  in  a  moment  undo  the 
work  of  thy  saints  during  ages,  and  would  barter  heaven 
for  earth,  the  eternal  for  the  temporal,  and  the  undying 
laurels  of  thy  martyrs  and  saints,  for  the  short-lived 
plaudits  of  a  godless  mob,  or  the  gratification  of  their 
carnal  appetites  !  It  is  done  !  it  is  done  !  well  and 
faithfully  hast  thou  adhered  to  thy  God  and  thy  first 
faith,  and  independence  and  eternal  renown  shall  reward 
thy  fidelity  !" 

After  having  delivered  himself  of  the  foregoing  im- 
passioned apostrophe,  with  the  voice  and  gesture  of  a 
prophet,  or  one  inspired,  he  turned  his  eyes  towards 
O'Mara,  and  seeing  him  in  a  flood  of  tears  and  on  the 
ground,  approached  to  console  him  and  to  lift  him  up. 
All  the  sad  scenes  of  the  rebellion,  rushing  like  so  many 
pent  up  fountains  to  his  mind,  from  the  chambers  of  his 
dormant  memory,  completely  unmanned  the  peasant 
patriot's  bosom,  and  he  could  scarcely  cease  sobbing  and 
weeping  like  an  abandoned  child.  And  his  sorrow  was 
aggravated  a  thousand  fold  by  the  conviction  that  forced 
itself  on  his  mind,  from  the  language  and  manner  of  the 
hermit-prophet,  that  the  crisis  in  the  lamentable  condi- 
tion of  his  wounded  country  had  not  yet  arrived. 

The  Father,  perceiving  the  effect  of  his  words,  pru- 
dently checked  himself,  and  the  dialogue  was  turned 
towards  a  more  familiar  and  less  exciting  topic. 


286  THE      PROPHET      OF 

"  You  omitted  to  tell  me,  Terry,"  he  resumed,  "  if 
you  know  any  thing  of  my  old  friends  Kilpatrick  and 
Ossory.  Surely  Charles  must  have  often  spoken  of  them 
while  you  and  he  were  together,  before  and  after  the  re- 
bellion." 

"  Yes,  poor  gentleman,  he  is  no  more  !  After  his 
return  from  France  his  lady  gave  birth  to  a  son  and 
heir,  and  being  soon  after  on  a  visit  to  his  brother-in- 
law  Ossory' s,  with  his  wife  and  child,  he  lost  the  latter 
through  the  following  extraordinary  accident.  The 
nurse  having  taken  the  child  for  an  airing  upon  the 
roof  of  the  castle,  which  was  flat,  and  on  which  was  a 
small  artificial  parterre  of  flowers,  laid  it  down  among 
the  beds,  with  the  flowers  of  which  it  was  playing, 
to  descend,  for  a  moment,  through  the  trap-door  to  her 
chamber  ;  but  lo  !  on  her  return  a  huge  eagle  had 
just  seized  the  child  in  its  talons,  and  carried  it  off 
through  the  air. 

"  The  stroke  fell  on  Kilpatrick  like  a  thunderbolt ;  he 
became  partially  insane  ;  and  returning  back  to  Scot- 
land, he  joined  a  regiment  of  Highlanders,  who  were 
sent  by  the  government  to  dislodge  Holt,  Dwyer  and 
others,  who  kept  up  a  guerilla  war  in  the  mountains  of 
Wicklow,  and  was  killed  in  his  attempt  to  capture  Holt. 
His  lady  thus  bereaved,  entered  a  convent  of  Irish  Ursu- 
lines  in  Paris,  where  I  suppose  she  yet  lives,  if  she  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  escape  the  fury  of  the  Red  Republicans." 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  287 

u  Have  they  ever  since  heard  any  thing  about  the 
fate  of  the  child, — who  was  christened  Brefni,  was  he 
not  ?  " 

'  That  was  his  precise  name  ;  of  course  they  never 
heard  more  of  his  fate,  but  justly  concluded  that  he  was 
devoured  by  the  savage  bird,  which  has  been  often  known 
to  take  off  and  devour  children  in  the  vicinity  of  places 
in  which  it  has  its  nest,  in  many  parts  of  the  country." 
"  The  joint-heir  of  the  Scotch  and  Irish  noble  houses 
has  not  perished,  but  been  placed  in  secure  hands  by 
the  eagle,  some  of  whose  noble  qualities  he  inherits,  and 
Brefni  now  dwells  in  Spain,  the  land  of  his  adoption  ! 
We  have  already  devoted  more  than  enough  of  this 
thrice  hallowed  festival  to  the  discussion  of  the  world 
and  its  affairs,  let  us  now,  my  old  friend,  set  about  con- 
cluding the  religious  exercises  of  the  day,  and  to-morrow, 
if  G-od  wills,  we  shall  return  to  the  subjects  that  have 
already  so  long  engaged  our  attention  to-day." 

Sy  saying,  he  resumed  his  breviary,  and  approached 
the  rude  altar  of  the  cave,  followed  by  his  old  acquaint- 
ance, Terence  O'Mara. 


288  THE      PROPHET      OF 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE    HERMIT    COMMEMORATES    THE    FESTIVAL    OF 
ST.  STEPHEN,    PROTOMARTYR. 

For  some  time,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Abbey  of 
Glanduff,  the  impression  was  becoming  general  that  it 
was  by  robbers  or  outlaws  the  ruin  was  haunted  instead 
of  ghosts.  And  the  government  authorities  in  the  towns 
of  Innistymon,  Kilfenora,  and  other  neighboring  sta- 
tions, had  it  in  contemplation  for  some  time  to  order  a 
thorough  search  of  that  lone  and  unfrequented  neigh- 
borhood ;  the  yeomanry  and  police  night-patrolling  par- 
ties, having  frequently  given  information  of  having  seen 
lights  and  moving  shapes  of  rejbels  hovering  about  the 
ruin.  The  incidents  related  in  the  twenty-sixth  chap- 
ter of  this  work  served  to  confirm  these  reports,  and 
especially,  as  a  son  of  O'Torpy,  with  a  view  of  getting  a 
reward,  gave  information  to  a  magistrate  concerning  the 
expedition,  and  ill-luck  of  the  gold-seekers  ;  who,  he 
stated,  were  driven  from  the  Abbey  by  a  band  of  robbers 


THE      RUINED      ABBEY.  289 

who  were  sheltered  there.     The  magistrate,  one  Coal- 
poise,  received  the  information  of  young  OTorpy  with 
evident  satisfaction,  as,  whether  true  or  false,  it  coin- 
cided with  his  own  long-conceived  opinion  ;  but,  instead 
of  rewarding  the  young  scoundrel  who  gave  the  false 
and  hearsay  information,  he  kicked  him  rudely  from  his 
office,  and  threatened  to  hang  him  if  he  didn't  keep  his 
mind  to  himself  till  after  the  arrest  of  the  supposed  out- 
laws.    According  to  a  preconcerted  plan,  therefore,  en- 
tered into  by  the  bench  of  magistrates  of  the  above- 
named  towns,  it  was  determined  to  make  an  assault  on 
the  old  ruin  on  Christmas  night,  when,  it  was  thought, 
the  outlaws  or  robbers  would  be  found  in  their  hiding- 
places,  and  easily  secured.     The  appointed  hour  arrived, 
and  the  several  detachments  were    punctually  at  the 
rendezvous,   and    on  a  given    signal,   in    four  different 
bodies  they  approach  the  Abbey  ruin.     Having  stationed 
sentinels  at  proper  places  and  within  speaking  distances, 
around  the  Abbey,  the  commander,  one  Captain  Blood, 
ordered  a  general  search  of  every  arch,  niche,  crevice, 
tomb,  vault,  or  other  hiding-place  within  the  ancient 
ruin,  so   that   if  "  there   was  a  robber,  a  rebel,  or  a  rat 
there,  he  could  not  remain  concealed,"  as  he  vauntingly 
spoke  within  hearing  of  all  present.     They  searched  and 
searched  over   again,  but  no  robbers   nor  sign  of  them 
appeared,  except  that   they  found  the   hiding-place  of 
O'Mara,  which  was  in  a  broken  flue  of  the  large  kitchen 

13 


290  THE      PROPHET      OF 

chimney  of  the  Abbey,  and  the  only  sign  of  its  having 
been  inhabited  was  a  litter  of  mixed  leaves  and  hay  that 
served  him  for  a  bed  !  They  also  discovered  the  under- 
ground chapel,  which  they  explored  by  suspending  their 
lamps  into  it  from  the  muzzles  of  their  muskets,  but 
which  they  had  not  the  courage  to  enter  at  that  hour 
of  night.  Finally,  the  useless  search  was  discontinued 
about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  after  five  hours  unre- 
quited labor,  and  the  yeomanry  and  police  that  consti- 
tuted principally  this  disorderly  expedition,  were  ordered 
back  to  their  respective  barracks  at  Innistymon,  Corofin, 
and  Doolin  !  The  whole  force  did  not  quit  the  ground, 
however,  for  a  smaTl  body,  consisting  of  Captain  Blood, 
Singleton,  Coalpoise,  and  three  or  four  privates,  under 
pretence  of  laying  in  ambush  for  the  return  of  the  rob- 
bers, but  in  reality  expecting  to  fall  in  with  something 
valuable  in  the  newly  found  chapel,  volunteered  to  re- 
main on  the  ground  till  daylight. 

Having  stationed  the  privates  in  different  parts  of 
the  ruin  according  to  orders,  the  three  worthies,  Single- 
ton, Coalpoise,  and  Blood,  after  a  copious  draught  from 
the  brandy  flask,  were  standing  right  over  the  aperture, 
discussing  the  probable  treasures  that  a  thorough  ex- 
ploration of  the  luckily-discovered  chapel  would  disclose, 
when,  all  of  a  sudden,  the  entire  space  became  illu- 
minated, and  an  awful  spectre  walked  across  the  floor 
and  knelt  before  the  altar  of  the  chapel  !     The  three 


THE      KUINED      ABBEY.  291 

saw  the  unearthly  visitor  at  once  ;  two  of  them,  after 
having  fallen  to  the  earth  through  fear,  fled,  but  the 
third,  that  was  Captain  Blood,  shouldered  his  musket, 
and  taking  deliberate  aim  at  the  spectre,  fired,  and  fled, 
crying,  "  Whether  you  be  ghost  or  devil,  take  that,  you 
audacious  papist  goblin  ! " 

The  report  of  the  shot  was  reverberated  in  a  thou- 
sand mournful  echoes  from  the  crypt,  from  the  tombs  of 
the  dead,  and  from  the  arches  and  chambers  of  the  ruin. 
The  night-crows  and  ravens,  screaming  pitifully,  flew  in 
terror  through  the  gloom,  and  a  loud  clap  of  thunder 
broke  from  the  ominous  clouds  above,  as  if  to  attest  the 
indignation  of  heaven  at  the  guilty  deed  that  was  done  ! 

O'Mara  rushed  distracted  to  the  spot  where  the  aged 
Father  was  extended,  and  he  found  his  heart's  blood 
flowing  on  the  marble  pavement. 

"  This  is  a  glorious  day  to  die  on,  and  a  proper  way 
to  commemorate  the  martyrdom  of  the  heroic  protomar- 
tyr,  St.  Stephen  !  O'Mara,  my  friend,  move  me  away 
from  this  to  the  passage,  and  run  for  the  neighboring 
clergyman,  that,  as  I  cannot  offer  the  divine  victim,  I 
may  have  the  happiness  of  his  presence  to  strengthen 
me  for  the  final  journey  to  the  mountain  of  my  God  ! 
Haste,  friend,  you  have  no  time  to  lose  !" 

Within  one  hour  the  priest  had  arrived,  and  after 
havino;  administered  the  viaticum  to,  and  anointed  the 
aged  limbs  of,  this  heroic  priest,  prophet,  and  saint,  he 


292  THE     PROPHET      OF 

passed  from  this  world  to  the  happiness  of  the  next  on 
the  morning  of  St.  Stephen's  day  !  His  body  was  buried, 
according  to  his  own  directions,  by  the  hands  of  O'Mara, 
in  the  mouth  of  the  great  cave  where  he  spent  so  many 
years  of  his  life,  and  where  no  profane  foot  shall  tread 
on  his  tomb,  till  that  day  when  the  sound  of  the  angel's 
trumpet  shall  recall  it  to  immortality  and  eternal  re- 
ward ! 

On  the  streets  of  Innistymon,  Kilfenora,  and  Coro- 
fin,  might  be  seen  for  many  years  after  this,  an  old  man 
lame  of  both  feet,  moving  about  from  house  to  house  by 
the  aid  of  crutches,  and  soliciting  a  few  crumbs  of  bread 
for  food.  During  the  forenoon  of  each  day,  he  could  be 
observed  limping  around  the  rough-cast  walls  of  the 
Catholic  church  in  one  of  the  above-named  towns,  per- 
forming the  stations  of  the  cross,  and  on  Sundays  he 
always  was  the  first  up  to  the  rails  to  communicate,  and 
the  last  who  left  the  church  in  the  evening  after  the  end 
of  all  the  services  !  Nobody  knew  where  he  slept  at 
night,  nor  who  he  was,  or  what  was  his  name,  or  where 
he  came  from,  unless,  indeed,  the  parish  priest,  who  was 
his  director,  and  who  always  showed  him  marked  respect 
beyond  all  the  other  beggars  of  the  parish  !  The  peas- 
antry, in  their  inexhaustible  faculties  for  inventing  and 
calling  appropriate  names,  christened  him  "  Trelagh  Al- 
tagh,"  or  "  Terence  of  the  large  ankles,"  from  the  shape 
of  his  swollen  feet,  and  from  this  was  derived  the  name 


THE      EUINED      ABBEY.  293 

"  Terryalt,"  which  the  agrarian  confederation  of  Mini- 
ster, in  the  years  1831  and  '32,  adopted  as  its  name  ! 
This  poor  homeless  mendicant  was  no  other  than  our 
old  acquaintance  Terence  Q'Mara,  successively  the  "  En- 
chanted Warrior,"  the  Rapparee,  the  rehel,  and  the  out- 
law, and  finally,  the  repentant  sinner  ;  who,  it  is  to  be 
hoped,  expiated,  by  the  austerities  and  penance  of  his 
latter  years,  the  frailties  and  irregularities  of  his  younger 
days  ;  whose  daring  deeds  stood  long  the  terror  of  ty- 
rants, and  whose  very  infirmities,  ere  he  died,  gave  rise 
to* a  name  that  will  be  long  remembered,  with  salutary 
fear,  by  the  landlord  aristocracy  of  Munster.* 

*  The  name  "  Terryalt "  originated  in  this  way :  A  certain 
wealthy  farmer,  who  purchased  the  lands  from  which  several  com- 
fortable families  were  recently  ejected,  was  visited  by  night  by  a 
party  of  men  disguised  as  blacks,  who,  after  extorting  a  promise 
from  hini  to  resign  his  lately  rented  farm,  began  to  administer  to 
him  a  severe  currying  with  a  wool-card.  Writhing  under  the  se- 
vere infliction,  the  tortured  man  asked,  "  O,  who  is  this  whose 
hand  I  feel  tearing  the  very  flesh  off  my  back  ?"  To  which  several 
voices  answered,  "  It  is  '  Terry  Alt,'  the  pilgrim  beggar,  that  is  ad- 
ministering this  combing  to  you,  old  fellow!"  Afterwards  "Ter- 
ryalt" was  threatened  on  any  person  guilty  of  oppression  of  the 
people,  and  finally  the  Whiteboys  adopted  the  name  ! 


THE     END. 


COPY  OF  A  LETTEK 

^ctonipnmng  a  $0lfc  «$Mral  mt  bg  t\t  f  olg  Jfathcr 
TO  EDWARD  DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER, 


7lfos£  loorthy  and  respected  Gentlemen. : — 

Some  books,  which,  as  it  appeared  by  your  most  cour- 
teous letter,  you  wished  to  offer  to  our  most  holy  Lord  Pope 
Pius  IX.,  have  been  lately  handed  to  him.  This  act  on 
your  part  could  not  I0t  please  his  Holiness,  and  the  zeal 
you  constantly  show  by  the  publication  of  works  in  defence 
and  protection  of  the  cause  of  the  Catlwlic  Religion,  gives 
him  great  joy. 

The  Sovereign  Pontiff,  therefore,  with  great  pleasure 
encourages  you  in  your  course  by  this  letter,  and  returns 
you  his  thanks  for  the  gift  which  you  offer. 

I  am,  moreover,  ordered  to  transmit  a  gold  medal  which 
the  same  benign  Pontiff  souls,  impressed  uith  his  august 
effigy,  and  with  it,  as  a  pledge  of  his  paternal  and  especial 
affection  towards  you,  his  Apostolic  blessing,  which,  as  an 
auspice  of  oil  heavenly  good,  he  lovingly  grants  you  with 
the  most  sincere  affection  of  his  heart. 

I  have  only  to  profess  my  respects  to  you,  Gentle mr a, 
on  whom  I  earnestly  implore  all  that  is  saving  and  pro- 
pitious from  our  Lord. 

Gentlemen, 
Your  most  humble  and. obedient  Servant, 
DOMINIC  FIORAMONTI, 

Rome,  July  Gth,  1853.  Latin  Secretary  to  his  Holiness. 

To  E.  DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER,  New  York. 

fo== [J] 


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tive of  the  text,  with  References,  Readings,  Chronological  Tables,  and  Indexes  of  the 
great  Original  Work,  being  the  most  comprehensive  Catholic  Commentary  in  the 
English  Language. 

PUBLISHED  FNDER  THE  APPROBATION  OF  THE 

MOST  REV.  JOHN  HUGHES,  D.D.,  ARCHBISHOP  OF  NEW- YORK, 

And  honored  with  the  patronage  of  most  of  the  Aafcishops,  Bishops  and  Clergy  of  the 

United  States  and  the  CTnadas. 

£X"  THE  HOLY  BIBLE,  translated  from  the  Latin 
Vulgate,  diligently  compared  with  the  Hebrew,  Greek,  and 
other  editions  in  various  languages.  The  Old  Testament, 
first  published  by  the  English  College  at  Douay,  A.  D.  1609  ; 
and  the  New  Testament,  first  published  by  the  English 
College  at  Rheims,  A.  D.  1582,  with  useful  notes,  Critical, 
Historical,  Controversial  and  Explanatory,  from  the  most 
eminent  Commentators  and  able  and  judicious  critics,  by  the 
Rev.  Geo.  Leo  Haydock,  D.  D.  <|1 

EDWARD  DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER  respectfully  inform  the  jj 
Catholic  Public  that  they  are  publishing  a  new  and  superb  edition  y  [ 
of  the  Douay  Version  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures;  no  attempt  having  \L 
hitherto  been  made  to  bring  within  the  reach  of  the  Catholiesin  If 
America  generally  a  Large  Family  Bible,  with  an  approved  and  Su 
Comprehensive  Commentary,  at  a  moderate  price,  and  accessible  in  l| 
its  mode  of  publication.  The  Edition  known  as  Hatdock's  has  m 
long  been  out  of  print,  and  was  originally  published  at  a  price  so  3| 
very  high,  and  in  form  so  unwieldy,  as  to  prevent  its  general  circu-  }jf 
lation.  It  is  the  aim  of  the  Publishers  of  the  present  edition  to  }k 
supply  all  deficiencies,  by  the  issue  in  Numbers,  of  an  Imperial  «Jlf 
Quarto  Edition  of  the  Douay  Bible  and  Rheims  Neio  Testament,  \\l 
with  a  Comprehensive  Commentary  from  the  most  able  Divines,  [ill 
and  at  about  one-fourth  the  cost  of  the  original  edition.  <| 

To  produce  a  superb  edition  of  the  Bible  suitable  alike  for  the  W 
Library  of  the  Learned  as  well  as  for  the  Family  Circle,  and  com-  (§ 
billing  at  once  an  ample  and  convenient  size,  without  encountering  ^| 
the  cumberousness  of  the  folio  or  the  inelegance  of  the  ordinary 
quarto,  it  has  been  determined  to  adopt  for  this  work  the  Imperial 
Quarto  Page,  the  dimensions  of  which  are  sufficiently  capacious  to 
admit  great  legibility,  and  of  such  pleasing  proportions,  as  to  obviate 
the  objections  so  frequentty  urged  against  the  folio  and  ordinary 
quarto. 


i 
} 


%$mt  of  the  Critical  ©pinions  of  the  ^prtss, 
OF  DUNIGAN  &  BEOTHEE'S  HAYDOCK'S  UNABEIDGED  BIBLE. 

"  "We  have  seen  many  copies  of  the  Holy  Book,  but  never  one  that  exceeded  this." — 
New-  York  Irish  American, 

"This  magnificent  publication,  under  the  approbation  of  Archbishop  Hughes,  forms 
an  epoch  in  the  history  of  sacred  publications.  It  is  printed  in  a  style  of  elegance 
■wholly  unsurpassed." — New-  York  News. 

"  The  most  elegant  edition  of  the  Bible  ever  published  in  this  country,  is  the  Dou^y 
Bible,  now  in  course  of  publication  by  Edward  Dunigan  &  Brother.  It  has  a  copious 
commentary  and  notes,  and  is  especially  recommended  by  Archbishop  Hughes,  of  this 
city.  In  form,  style,  and  beauty  of  paper  and  print,  it  has  rarely  been  equalled  by  any 
■work  ever  issued  in  this  country." — New-  York  Sachem. 

"Dnnigan  &  Brother  have  cojnmeneed  a  magnificent  publication,  -which  we  recom- 
mend to  all  Catholics,  as  well  aslRateurs  of  fine  books.  It  is  an  English  version  of  the 
Holy  Bible  from  the  Latin  Vulgate,  in  a  new  form  elegantly  illustrated.  The  Archbishop 
of  New- York,  Monseigneur  Hughes,  has  given  his  approbation  to  this  new  edition,  and 
that  dispenses  with  all  eulogy  in  regard  to  the  purity  of  the  Text  But  we  can  insist  on 
the  beauty  of  the  typographical  execution,  which  leaves  nothing  to  desire."— New-  York 
Courier  des  Etats  Un  is. 

"  This  edition  surpasses  in  elegance  and  correctness  any  thing  yet  produced  in  this 
line." — Neva-York  Freeman's  Journal. 

"  Published  in  a  very  handsome  form,  the  Text  in  large  and  clear  type,  on  fine  white 
paper,  and  we  hope  ^lill  be  extensively  patronised."— New- York  Churchman. 

'  ?C  "  Ttiis  magnificent  work  is  the  most  cheap  and  elegant  edition  of  the  Bible  ever  pnb- 

,  \S      lished— nothing  ever  got  up  in  this  country  at  all  comparable  to  it    It  contains  all  llay- 
j!j>      dock's  Notes  complete."— New-  York  Alias. 

if  "  This  work  is  brought  out  in  the  most  superb  style,  equal  to  any  work  ever  issued 

Kl)       from  the  American  Press."— New-  York  Mirror. 
f  I  "A  superb  Catholic  Edition  of'the  Bible."— New-  York  Book  Trade. 

"The  notes  are  certainly  most  copious,  and  if  published  separate,  would  form  a  book 
containing  twice  as  much  reading  matter  as  the  Biblo  itself,  and  is  a  very  creditable 
specimen  of  enterprise  and  skill."— New-  York  Evening  Post. 

"  Beautifully  printed  and  very  superior  illustrations.  The  typography  and  illustra- 
tions are  elegant,  and  as  an  authorize  1  Catholic  Bible  and  extensive  Commentary,  we 
commend  it  to  our  Protestant  readers."—  Washington  National  Era. 

■    "  A  splendid  specimen  of  typography."— New-  York  Day  Book. 

"A  superb  specimen  of  typography,  and  is  illustrated  with  engravings  in  the  highest 
style  of  Art" — Harper's  Monthly  Magazine. 

"Haydoek's  edition  of  the  Bible  has  justly  obtained  the  reputation  of  being  the  best 
Catbolic  edition  of  the  Bible  in  the  English  Language.  For  the  acenraoy  of  the  Text 
the  reader  lias  the  authority  of  the  Most  Eev.  Archbishop  of  New-York,  under  whose 
sanction  this  edition  is  published.  For  beauty  of  typography,  and  general  excellence  In 
mechanical  execution,  Dunigan  &  Brother's  new  and  handsomely  illust!  «  is 

)  not  surpassed  by  any  edition  of  (he  Bible  that  lias  appeared  in  Europe  or  on  this  I  tonti- 
\  ncrit.  The  lowness  of  the  price— 25  cents  a  number— places  it  within  the  reach  of  almost 
J       all  classes  of  societv."— Montreal  True  Witness. 


\ 


& 


EDWARD  DUNIGAN  &  BROTHER, 

151  Fulton  Street,  near  Broadway, 

HAVE    JUST    PUBLISHED 

THE  MOST  SPLENDID  PRESENTATION  EDITIONS  OF 

ttanhrlt  unit  (Blrpnt  (Cntjjnlir  3pratjn:-3Gnak5 

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THE  DOCTRINAL  CATECHISM. 


35xtratts  from  Notfctjj. 
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•-♦-• 

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THE   PRACTICE   OF   CHRISTIAN 
AND  RELIGIOUS  PERFECTION. 

BY  ALPHONSUS  RODRIGUEZ, 

OF   THE   SOCIETY    OF    JESUS. 


"In  this  excellent  wof;k,"  says  Alban  Butler,  in  his  Lives  of  the 
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PUBLISHED  BT  EDWARD  DUNIOAN  &  BROTHER. 

THE 

GROUNDS  OF  THE  CATHOLIC  DOCTRINE, 

Contained  in  the  Profession  of  Faith  published  by  Pope  Pins  IV. 

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"              "         2d  Book,  leather  backs,       .         .        .  10 

3d  Book,     "           «  371 

THE  CATHOLIC  EDUCATIONAL  SERIES. 

Lessons  for  Young  Learners,  No.  1,  half  bound,           .         .  6£ 

"         "    '     "             "        No.  2,         "                ...  121 

The  Practical  Spelling  Book,  half-bound,  ....  12^ 

The  Catholic  School  Book,          "                   ....  15 

The  Universal  Reading  Book,  half-bound,           .         .        .  37£ 
Clialloner's  Bible  History,  including  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, half-bound,    ........  31 

Challoner's  Bible  History,  including  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 


ment, full  bound, 371 

Outlines  of  History,  by  P.  C.  Grace,  half-bound,    .         .         .31 

"      "         "  "  cloth  sides,         .        .         37£ 

General  History  of  Europe  ;  anew  edition,  revised,  improved, 

and  continued  to  the  present  time,  by  J.  G.  Shea,    .         .     75 
Murray's   English   Grammar,   containing  in  full  the   Rules, 

Notes,  and  Exercises, 25 

Davis's  Edition  of  Walker's  Dictionary,         .         .         .        .50 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


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